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BREVIARY  TREASURES 


The  Olympic  and 
Pythian  Odes  of  * 
Pindar  tf*  4*  tf* 


Translated  into  English  Verse 
by  Abraham  Moore  tjt  tft 


Privately  Printed  by 
NATHAN  HASKELL  DOLE 
BOSTON 


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Copyright ,  1QO3 

By  Nathan  Haskell  Dole 


INTRODUCTION 

Pindar,  the  most  illustrious  of  the 
lyric  poets  of  Greece,  was  born  at  Ky- 
noskephale,  near  Thebes,  in  Boeotia, 
about  520  b.  c.  The  pretty  legend  of 
the  prophetic  bees  settling  on  his  infant 
lips  and  leaving  their  honey  there,  hints 
at  his  early  inclination  for  music  and 
poetry.  His  mother,  Myrto  or  Myrtis, 
herself  a  lyric  poet,  first  taught  him  to 
combine  simplicity  and  elegance  in  his 
verse.  Later  the  beautiful  Corinna  be¬ 
came  his  instructor.  He  was  taught  to 
play  the  lyre  by  Lasos  of  Hermione, 
famous  as  a  musician  and  dithyrambic 
poet.  When  very  young  he  went  to  the 
court  of  Alexander,  son  of  Amyntas, 
King  of  Macedon,  and  there  overcame 

v 


Myrtis  in  a  musical  contest,  but  was 
five  times  defeated  by  Corinna. 

That  was  a  golden  day  for  poets. 
Not  only  the  people  but  also  the  kings 
and  tyrants  appreciated  their  art,  and 
Pindar  soon  won  a  reputation  that  spread 
over  the  whole  civilized  world. 

King  Hiero  of  Syracuse  was  his 
munificent  patron  when  he  celebrated 
Athens  as  the  chief  support  of  Greece, 
and  Thebes  out  of  resentment  heavily 
fined  him.  The  Athenians  presented 
him  with  a  sum  double  the  amount  of 
the  fine  and  erected  a  brazen  statue  in 
his  honour,  representing  him  with  a  dia¬ 
dem  and  a  lyre  and  a  scroll  folded  on 
his  knees. 

The  date  of  his  death  is  not  cer¬ 
tainly  known.  He  was  either  fifty-six 
or  eighty-six  when  he  passed  away,  sit¬ 
ting  in  a  public  assembly. 

Quintilian  said  of  him  :  M  Of  the  nine 
Greek  lyric  poets,  Pindar  is  the  chief, 
in  spirit,  in  magnificence,  in  moral  sen¬ 
timents,  and  in  metaphor;  most  happy 
both  in  the  abundance  of  his  matter  and 
of  his  diction ;  and,  as  it  were,  with  a 

vi 


certain  torrent  of  eloquence,  so  that 
Horace  believes  no  man  can  imitate 
him.,,  This  expressed  the  common 
opinion  of  antiquity.  He  was  almost 
worshipped  in  his  own  day.  His  odes 
and  hymns  were  chanted  in  the  temples 
on  solemn  occasions,  and  the  priestess  at 
Delphi  declared  it  was  the  will  of  Apollo 
that  the  poet  should  receive  half  of  the 
first  fruits  annually  offered  at  his  shrine. 
When  the  Lacedaemonians  took  Thebes 
they  spared  Pindar’s  house  and  family, 
and  the  same  consideration  was  shown 
by  Alexander  the  Great. 

Most  of  Pindar’s  works  have  perished, 

and  unfortunately  the  remains  do  not 

represent  him  at  his  best.  He  wrote 

hymns  and  paeans  in  honour  of  the 

gods ;  songs  with  dance  accompaniment 

in  praise  of  Apollo  ;  dithyrambic  verses 

to  Bacchus  ;  odes  for  processions,  songs 

for  maidens,  drinking  songs,  dirges,  and 

panegyrics  on  princes,  and  the  odes  on 

the  Olympic,  Nemean,  Isthmian,  and 

Pythian  games.  Forty-five  of  these  odes 

are  extant,  and  with  a  few  fragments 

enable  us  to  judge  of  Pindar’s  genius. 

•  • 
vu 


It  has  been  said  of  these  odes  :  M  No 
subjects,  at  first  sight,  could  seem  more 
unfitted  for  sublime  poetry  than  those  of 
the  Pindaric  remains  ;  but  the  poet  has, 
with  characteristic  impetuosity,  over¬ 
come  this  difficulty  by  the  practice  of 
abandoning  the  professed  objects  of  his 
panegyric,  and  bursting  into  celebrations 
of  the  heroes  of  former  days,  the  mighty 
exploits  of  demigods,  and  the  gorgeous 
fables  of  oldest  time.  In  the  transition 
he  uses  little  art,  but  seems  to  rely,  as 
he  safely  might,  on  the  change  being,  in 
itself,  most  welcome.  He  is  chiefly  re¬ 
markable  for  the  gigantic  boldness  of  his 
conceptions,  and  the  daring  sublimity 
of  his  metaphors,  which  stamp  him  the 
iTschylus  of  lyric  poetry.  The  flights 
of  his  imagination  are  not,  however,  like 
those  of  the  great  tragedian,  mingled 
with  the  intensity  of  human  passion, 
which,  while  they  carry  us  beyond  our¬ 
selves,  still  come  home  to  the  heart. 

“  He  has  the  light  without  the  heat ; 
his  splendours  dazzle,  but  do  not  warm 
us.  There  is  little  of  human  feeling  in 
his  works  j  they  are  little  more  than  ex- 

viii 


hibitions  which  excite  our  surprise,  but 
not  our  sympathy.  His  compositions 
have  something  hard  and  stony  about 
them  —  the  sublimity  and  nakedness  of 
the  rock.  The  sunshine  glitters  on  the 
top,  but  no  foliage  adorns  the  declivity. 
All  the  interest,  such  as  it  is,  arises  from 
the  earnestness  of  the  poet  himself,  and 
the  intense  ardour  with  which  he  is  im¬ 
pelled  in  his  lofty  career. 

M  Hence  we  think  more  of  him  than 
of  his  work ;  while  in  Homer  and  the 
Greek  tragedians  the  author  is  forgotten. 
His  conception  is  so  ardent  that  he  can¬ 
not  wait  to  develop  his  metaphors ;  he 
often  but  half  unfolds  them,  and  suffers 
them  to  blend  with  the  literal  descrip¬ 
tions,  and  form  part  of  the  subject ;  and 
hence,  it  appears  to  us,  the  obscurities 
so  frequently  complained  of  in  Pindar 
have,  in  a  great  degree,  arisen. 

w  In  the  mechanical  composition  of 
his  odes,  however,  Pindar  is  by  no 
means  so  irregular  as  some  have  been 
disposed  to  imagine.  He  commonly 
preserves  the  arrangement  of  strophe, 
antistrophe,  and  epode ;  and  though  the 

ix 


construction  of  these  varies  in  different 
odes,  all  the  strophes  and  antistrophes 
in  the  same  ode  are  framed  on  the  same 
principles,  and  all  the  epodes  are  com¬ 
posed  in  similar  measures  to  each  other.” 

Muller  in  his  u  Literature  of  Ancient 
Greece  ”  asserts  that  the  very  fact  that 
these  triumphal  odes  were  more  fre¬ 
quently  transcribed  than  the  other  poems 
and  were  thus  saved  for  posterity  proves 
that  there  must  have  been  some  decided 
superiority  in  them,  and  he  is  consoled 
for  the  loss  of  the  other  kinds  by  the 
vast  variety  of  their  subject  and  style 
and  their  refined  and  elaborate  structure. 

These  odes  commemorate  victories 
won  at  the  four  great  Greek  games, 
either  by  speed  of  horses,  strength  and 
dexterity  in  running,  wrestling  or  boxing, 
or  skill  in  music.  Such  a  victory  shed 
lustre  not  only  on  the  victor  and  his 
family  but  also  on  his  native  city,  and 
demanded  a  celebration.  tc  This  cele¬ 
bration, ”  says  Muller,  cc  might  be  per¬ 
formed  by  the  victor’s  friends  on  the 
spot  where  the  victory  was  gained ;  as, 
for  example,  at  Olympia,  when  in  the 

x 


evening  after  the  termination  of  the  con¬ 
tests,  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  the  whole 
sanctuary  resounded  with  joyful  songs 
after  the  manner  of  the  encomia.  Or  it 
might  be  deferred  until  after  the  victor’s 
solemn  return  to  his  native  city,  where 
it  was  sometimes  repeated,  in  following 
years,  in  commemoration  of  his  success. 
A  celebration  of  this  kind  always  had  a 
religious  character,  it  often  began  with  a 
procession  to  an  altar  or  temple,  in  the 
place  of  the  games  or  in  the  native  city ; 
a  sacrifice,  followed  by  a  banquet,  was 
then  offered  at  the  temple,  or  in  the 
house  of  the  victor ;  and  the  whole  so¬ 
lemnity  concluded  with  the  merry  and 
boisterous  revel  called  by  the  Greeks 
KWfxos.  At  this  sacred  and,  at  the  same 
time,  joyous  solemnity  (a  mingled  char¬ 
acter  frequent  among  the  Greeks),  ap¬ 
peared  the  chorus,  trained  by  the  poet, 
or  some  other  skilled  person,  for  the 
purpose  of  reciting  the  triumphal  hymn, 
which  was  considered  the  fairest  orna¬ 
ment  of  the  festival.  It  was  during 
either  the  procession  or  the  banquet 
that  the  hymn  was  recited ;  as  it  was 

xi 


not  properly  a  religious  hymn  which 
could  be  combined  with  the  sacrifice.” 

The  translation  here  presented  is  by 
Mr.  Abraham  Moore,  whose  two  pri¬ 
vately  printed  volumes  at  one  time  be¬ 
longed  to  the  critic  Hazlitt  and,  enriched 
with  his  notes,  formed  a  part  of  the  rare 
library  of  the  late  Thomas  Wales  of 
Boston,  and  were  for  a  time  in  my  pos¬ 
session.  It  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of 
the  ablest  versions  ever  made  from  a 
classic  author,  and  the  pathetic  story  of 
the  translator’s  life  with  its  tragic  ending 
gives  it  a  peculiar  interest  and  value. 

N.  H.  D. 


•  • 
Xll 


OLYMPIC  ODES 


I 


ODE  I. 

TO  HIERO  THE  SYRACUSIAN 
Victor  in  the  Horse-race 


STROPHE  I. 

Water  the  first  of  elements.we  hold  ; 
And,  as  the  flaming  fire  at  night 
Glows  with  its  own  conspicuous  light, 
Above  proud  treasure  shines  transcendant 
gold  : 


I 


But  if,  my  soul,  ’t  is  thy  desire 
For  the  Great  Games  to  strike  thy  lyre, 
Look  not  within  the  range  of  day 
A  star  more  genial  to  descry 
Than  yon  warm  sun,  whose  glittering  ray 
Dims  all  the  spheres  that  gild  the  sky  ; 
Nor  loftier  theme  to  raise  thy  strain 
Than  famed  Olympia’s  crowded  plain  : 
From  whence,  by  gifted  minstrels  richly 
wove, 

The  illustrious  hymn,  at  glory’s  call, 
Goes  forth  to  Hiero’s  affluent  hall, 

To  hail  his  prosperous  throne  and  sing 
Saturnian  Jove. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Hiero  the  just,  that  rules  the  fertile  field, 
Where  fair  Sicilia’s  pastures  feed 
Unnumbered  flocks,  and  for  his  meed 
Culls  the  sweet  flowers  that  all  the  vir¬ 
tues  yield. 

Nor  less  renowned  his  hand  essays 
To  wake  the  Muse’s  choicest  lays, 

Such  as  the  social  feast  around 
Full  oft  our  tuneful  band  inspire  — 

But  wherefore  sleeps  the  thrilling  sound  ? 

2 


Pluck  from  the  peg  thy  Dorian  lyre, 

If  Pisa’s  palms  have  charms  for  thee, 

If  Pherenicus’  victory 
Hath  roused  thee  to  the  rapturous  cares 
of  song ; 

Tell  us  how  swift  the  ungoaded  steed 
By  Alpheus  urged  his  furious  speed, 

And  bore  the  distant  prize  from  all  the 
panting  throng. 

EPODE  I. 

Proud  of  his  stud,  the  Syracusian  king 
Partook  the  courser’s  triumph.  Through 
the  plain 

By  Lydian  Pelops  won  his  praises  ring  — 
Pelops  of  Neptune  loved  (whose  watery 
reign 

Bounds  the  wide  earth,  that  trembles  at 
his  might), 

Pelops,  whose  form  the  plastic  Fate 
replaced, 

And  from  the  caldron  bright 
Drew  forth  with  ivory  shoulder  graced. 
Life  teems  with  wonders :  yet,  in  Rea¬ 
son’s  spite, 

O’er  the  fond  fascinating  fiction,  warm 

3 


From  Fancy’s  pencil,  hangs  a  charm 
That  more  than  Nature’s  self  her  painted 
dreams  delight. 

STROPHE  II. 

For  Taste,  whose  softening  hand  hath 
power  to  give 

Sweetness  and  grace  to  rudest  things, 
And  trifles  to  distinction  brings, 

Makes  us  full  oft  the  enchanting  tale 
receive 

In  Truth’s  disguise  as  Truth.  The 
day 

Yet  comes,  Time’s  test,  that  tears  away 
The  veil  each  flattering  falsehood  wears. 
Beseems  us  then  (for  less  the  blame) 

Of  those  that  heed  us  from  the  spheres 
Becoming  marvels  to  proclaim. 

Great  son  of  Tantalus,  thy  fate 
Not  as  the  fablers  I  relate. 

Thee  with  the  Gods  thy  Sire’s  Sipylian 
guest, 

When  they  in  turn  beneath  his  bower 
Purest  repast  partook,  the  Power 
That  wields  the  Trident  seized,  and 
ravished  from  the  feast. 

4 


ANTISTROPHE  II. 


Desire  his  breast  had  conquered.  Up  he 
drove 

His  trembling  prize  of  mortal  mould 
In  radiant  car  with  steeds  of  gold 
To  the  highest  mansion  of  all-honoured 
Jove  ; 

With  whom  the  Boy,  from  wondering 
Ide 

Rapt  long  before,  like  place  supplied. 
Her  Pelops  lost,  her  vanished  son 
Soon  roused  the  frantic  mother’s  care ; 
No  tidings  came ;  the  search  begun 
In  mystery  ended  in  despair. 

Forthwith  some  envious  foe  was  found 
Whispering  the  unseemly  slander  round, 
“  How  all  into  the  bubbling  caldron  cast 
Thy  mangled  limbs  were  seethed,  and 
shred 

In  fragments  on  the  table  spread, 

While  circling  Gods  looked  on  and 
shared  the  abhorred  repast.” 


5 


% 


EPODE  II. 

Far  be  from  me  and  mine  the  thought 
profane, 

That  in  foul  feast  celestials  could  de¬ 
light  ! 

Blasphemous  tale  !  Detraction  finds  its 
bane 

E’en  in  the  wrong  it  works  —  If  mortal 
wight 

Heaven  e’er  hath  honoured,  ’t  was  this 
Tantalus ; 

But  soon  from  ill-digested  greatness 
sprung 

Presumption  and  abuse  : 

Thence  from  his  towering  fortunes 
flung 

(Frightful  reverse  !)  he  fell.  A  ponder¬ 
ous  rock 

High  o’er  his  head  hung  threatening 
(angry  Jove 

So  judged  him  for  his  crimes  above)  : 

Where  day  and  night  he  waits,  dreading 
the  expected  shock. 


6 


STROPHE  III. 


Thus  doomed  is  he  life’s  hopeless  load 
to  bear, 

Torment  unceasing  !  Three  beside, 

Delinquents  there,  like  pains  abide. 

He  from  the  Immortals  their  ambrosial 
fare, 

The  nectarous  flood  that  crowned  their 
bowl, 

To  feast  his  earth-born  comrades, 
stole ; 

Food,  that,  by  their  celestial  grace, 

Eternal  youth  to  him  had  given. 

Vain  hope,  that  guilt  by  time  or  place 

Can  ’scape  the  searching  glance  of 
heaven  ! 

For  this  the  blameless  Son  once  more 

Back  to  man’s  short-lived  race  they 
bore ; 

There,  when  fresh  youth  its  blooming 
flower  had  blown, 

And  round  his  chin  the  umbrageous 
beard 

Mature  its  manlier  growth  had  reared, 

From  Pisa’s  Prince  he  sought,  his 
nuptial  couch  to  crown, 

7 


ANTISTROPHE  III. 

The  famed  Hippodame ;  whose  charms 
to  gain, 

The  fond  and  furious  father’s  pride, 

At  night’s  dark  hour  alone  he  hied 
To  the  rough  shore  of  the  loud-bellow¬ 
ing  main, 

And  called  the  Trident-sceptred  God, 
Whose  form  forthwith  beside  him 
stood : 

“  Oh  !  if  the  endearing  gifts,”  said  he, 

“  The  Cyprian  sea-born  Oueen  bestows, 
Have  still,  great  Neptune,  grace  with 
thee, 

Propitiate  now  thy  suppliant’s  vows. 
Arrest  CEnomaus’  brazen  spear, 

To  Elis  guide  my  prompt  career, 

And  bear  me  on  thy  swiftest  chariot’s 
wheel 

Victorious  to  the  goal ;  for  he, 

Slayer  of  suitors  ten  and  three, 

Still  from  his  daughter’s  hope  withholds 
the  bridal  seal. 


8 


EPODE  III. 


w  Majestic  Danger  calls  but  for  the  brave, 
Trusts  not  the  dastard’s  arm  :  then  why 
should  man, 

By  life’s  hard  lot  predestined  to  the  grave, 
Waste  in  the  dark  the  unprofitable  span, 
And  crouch  in  Age’s  corner  unrenowned, 
Heaven’s  noblest  gifts  untasted  ?  Power 
divine  ! 

Grant  thou  the  event  be  crowned, 

This  peril  shall  at  least  be  mine.” 

Thus  he,  with  zeal  not  unregarded, 
speeds 

His  ardent  prayer.  The  God  his  prayer 
embraced, 

Gave  him  his  car  with  gold  enchaced, 
And  roused  the  unwearied  plumes  that 
winged  the  immortal  steeds. 

STROPHE  IV. 

CEnomaiis’  power  the  exulting  youth 
o’erthrows  : 

The  virgin  spouse  his  arms  entwine ; 
From  whose  soft  intercourse,  a  line 
By  all  the  virtues  nurst,  six  warriors  rose. 

9 


Now  in  rich  pomp  and  solemn  state 
His  dust  heroic  honours  wait. 

Where  Alpheus  laves  the  hallowed  glade, 
His  tomb  its  ample  range  displays, 

And  gifts  by  many  a  stranger  laid 
High  on  his  crowded  altar  blaze; 

But  most  from  proud  Olympia’s  drome, 
On  distant  realms,  on  times  to  come, 
Shines  Pelops’  fame.  There  Speed  de¬ 
mands  his  crown, 

Toil-mastering  Strength  the  muscle 
strains, 

And  conquerors  pass  life’s  proud  remains 
On  Virtue’s  tranquil  couch,  the  slumber 
of  renown. 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

Such  is  the  Champion’s  meed :  the  con¬ 
stant  good, 

That  lives  beyond  the  transient  hour, 
Of  all  that  Heaven  on  man  can  shower, 
Most  fires  his  hope,  most  wakes  his 
gratitude  : 

But  now  ’t  is  mine,  the  strain  to  raise, 
And  swell  the  Equestrian  Hero’s  praise, 
To  crown  with  loud  iEolian  song 

IO 


A  Prince,  whose  peer  the  spacious  earth 
Holds  not  its  noblest  chiefs  among, 
Boasts  not  in  wisdom,  power  and  worth, 
A  host  more  gifted,  to  display, 

Through  all  the  mazes  of  the  lay. 

Hiero,  some  guardian  god  thy  fame  sus¬ 
tains, 

And  makes  thee  his  peculiar  care ; 

If  long  thy  deeds  his  smiles  shall  share, 

A  loftier  flight  I  ’ll  soar,  and  warble 
sweeter  strains. 

EPODE  IV. 

Then  high  on  Cronium’s  peak  my  post 
shall  be ; 

There,  as  a  poet’s  glance  informs  my 
soul. 

First  in  the  burning  race  thy  steeds  to  see, 
Thy  bounding  chariot  whirl  thee  to  the 
goal. 

Then  shall  the  Muse  her  strongest  jave¬ 
lin  fling ; 

’Bove  all  the  ranks  of  greatness  at  the 
top 

Shines  the  consummate  king  — 

Beyond  that  height  lift  not  thy  hope. 


Be  thine  in  that  bright  station  long  to 
bear 

Thy  upright  course ;  mine,  with  the 
conquering  band, 

To  take  my  honourable  stand, 

And  ’mong  the  bards  of  Greece  the  palm 
of  genius  wear. 


12 


ODE  II. 

TO  THERON  OF  AGRIGENTUM 
Victor  in  the  Chariot-race 


STROPHE  I. 

Hymns,  that  rule  the  living  lyre, 

What  god,  what  hero  shall  we  sing  ? 
What  mortal’s  praise  the  strain  in¬ 
spire  ?  — 

Jove  is  Pisa’s  guardian  king : 

Hercules  the  Olympiad  planned, 

Trophy  of  his  conquering  hand: 

13 


But  Theron,  whose  bright  axle  won, 
With  four  swift  steeds,  the  chariot 
crown, 

Noblest  of  hosts,  our  song  shall  grace, 
The  prop  of  Agrigentum’s  fame, 

Flower  of  an  old  illustrious  race, 

Whose  upright  rule  his  prospering  states 
proclaim. 


ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Prest  with  ills,  yon  sacred  pile, 

Yon  stream  his  fathers  held,  and  shone 
The  eyes  of  all  Sicilia’s  isle. 

Inborn  virtue  was  their  own  : 

Public  favour,  wealth  and  power 
Reached  them  in  their  destined  hour. 

But  thou,  that  rulest  the  Olympian 
dome, 

Saturnian  son  of  Rhea’s  womb, 

God  of  the  noblest  games  divine, 

And  Alpheus’  stream  that  wanders 
near, 

Soothed  with  our  song,  to  all  his  line 
Vouchsafe  their  Sire’s  dominion  long 
to  bear. 


14 


EPODE  I. 


Virtue’s  achievement,  Folly’s  crime, 
Whate’er  of  guilt  or  good  the  past  has 
known, 

Not  e’en  the  Sire  of  all  things,  mighty 
Time, 

Hath  power  to  change,  or  make  the 
deed  undone. 

But,  when  the  prosperous  hour  returns, 
O’er  woes  long  wept  Oblivion  softly  lays 
Her  shadowy  veil ;  and  from  the  heart 
that  mourns, 

By  goodlier  joys  subdued,  the  inveterate 
bane  decays. 

STROPHE  II. 

Thus  rewarding  Heaven  and  Fate 
Exalted  bliss  at  length  bestow ; 

As  Cadmus’  daughters,  throned  in  state, 
Teach  the  moral  strain  to  show. 

Great  their  ills ;  but  heaviest  woe 
Mightier  good  can  soon  o’erthrow  : 

For  Semele,  once  to  vengeance  given, 
Now  waves  her  flowing  locks  in 
Heaven ; 


15 


She,  by  the  rattling  thunder  slain, 

To  Pallas  dear,  carest  by  Jove, 

Among  the  Olympians  lives  again, 

And  meets  her  Ivied  Boy’s  requited  love. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Bosomed  in  the  briny  deep, 

’Mong  Nereids  green,  as  story  tells, 
While  Time  his  circling  course  shall 
keep, 

Aye  immortal  Ino  dwells. 

*T  is  not  given  for  man  to  know 
When  pale  Death  shall  strike  the  blow, 
Nor  e’en  if  one  serener  Day, 

The  Sun’s  brief  child,  shall  pass  away 
Unclouded  as  it  rose.  The  waves 
Of  life  with  ceaseless  changes  flow, 

And,  as  the  tempest  sleeps  or  raves, 
Bring  triumph  or  disaster,  weal  or  woe. 

EPODE  II. 

The  Genius,  thus,  whose  power  upholds 
The  prosperous  destiny  of  Theron’s  race, 
And  sends  them  wealth  from  heaven,  a 
scene  unfolds, 


1 6 


In  times  long  past,  of  vengeance  and 
disgrace  — 

Vengeance  from  that  ill-omened  hour 

When  son  and  sire  in  foul  encounter 
met ; 

And  all,  that  Pythian  threat  denounced 
of  yore, 

In  Lams*  murder  mixt,  consistent  and 
complete. 


STROPHE  III. 

Quick  the  sharp-eyed  Fury  flew. 

And,  as  the  strife  she  stirred,  apace 
Kindred  their  warlike  kindred  slew ; 
Social  bloodshed  thinned  the  race. 
Polynices  bit  the  ground ; 

Sole  Thersander  lived,  renowned 
In  youthful  game  or  martial  fray, 

Of  brave  Adrastus’  house  the  stay. 
Sprung  from  that  old  heroic  sire, 
iEnesidamus  bids  us  raise 
The  applauding  lay,  and  sweep  the 
lyre 

Through  all  its  thrilling  chords  in 
Theron’s  praise. 

17 


ANTISTROPHE  III. 


’Midst  Olympia’s  shouting  bands 

With  the  proud  prize  himself  was 
crowned ; 

While  rival  wreaths  from  Isthmian 
hands 

Waved  his  brother’s  temples  round  ; 

Fortune’s  favourite  !  o’er  his  brow 

Blended  hung  the  Pythian  bough. 

With  fourfold  team  in  rapid  race 

Twelve  times  he  scoured  the  circling 
space : 

Before  Success  the  Sorrows  fly. 

And  Wealth  more  bright  with  Virtue 
joined. 

Brings  golden  Opportunity, 

The  sparkling  star,  the  sun-beam  of 
mankind ; 

EPODE  III. 

Brings  to  the  rich  man’s  restless  heart 

Ambition’s  splendid  cares.  No  less  he 
knows 

The  day  fast  comes  when  all  men  must 
depart, 


18 


And  pay  for  present  pride  in  future 
woes. 

The  deeds  that  frantic  mortals  do 

In  this  disordered  nook  of  Jove’s 
domain, 

All  meet  their  meed ;  and  there ’s  a 
Judge  below 

Whose  hateful  doom  inflicts  the  inevi¬ 
table  pain. 


STROPHE  IV. 

O’er  the  Good  soft  suns  the  while 
Through  the  mild  day,  the  night  serene, 
Alike  with  cloudless  lustre  smile, 
Tempering  all  the  tranquil  scene. 

Theirs  is  leisure ;  vex  not  they 
Stubborn  soil  or  watery  way, 

To  wring  from  toil  want’s  worthless 
bread : 

No  ills  they  know,  no  tears  they  shed, 
But  with  the  glorious  Gods  below 
Ages  of  peace  contented  share. 
Meanwhile  the  Bad  with  bitterest  woe 
Eye-startling  tasks,  and  endless  tortures 
wear. 


19 


ANTISTROPHE  IV. 


All,  whose  stedfast  virtue  thrice 
Each  side  the  grave  unchanged  hath  stood 
Still  unseduced,  unstained  with  vice, 
They  by  Jove’s  mysterious  road 
Pass  to  Saturn’s  realm  of  rest, 

Happy  isle  that  holds  the  blest; 

Where  sea-born  breezes  gently  blow 
O’er  blooms  of  gold  that  round  them 
glow, 

Which  Nature  boon  from  stream  or 
strand 

Or  goodly  tree  profusely  pours ; 

Whence  pluck  they  many  a  fragrant 
band, 

And  braid  their  locks  with  never-fading 
flowers. 


EPODE  IV. 

Such  Rhadamanthus’  mandate  wise  : 

He  on  the  judgment-bench,  associate 
meet, 

By  ancient  Saturn  sits,  prompt  to  advise, 
The  spouse  of  Rhea,  whose  high  throne 
is  set 


20 


Above  all  powers  in  Earth  or  Heaven. 
Peleus  and  Cadmus  there  high  honours 
crown ; 

The  like  to  great  Achilles  largely 
given 

With  prayers  from  yielding  Jove  persua¬ 
sive  Thetis  won. 

STROPHE  V. 

Hector  he,  the  pillar  of  Troy 
By  mightiest  arms  unmoved,  o’erthrew, 
And  bright  Aurora’s  iEthiop  boy : 

He  the  godlike  Cycnus  slew  — 

On  my  quivered  arm  I  bear 
Many  an  arrow  swift  and  rare ; 

Dealt  to  the  wise  delight  they  bring, 

To  vulgar  ears  unmeaning  ring. 

Genius  his  stores  from  nature  draws ; 

In  words  not  wit  the  learned  shine; 
Clamorous  in  vain,  like  croaking  daws, 
They  rail  against  the  bird  of  Jove  divine. 

ANTISTROPHE  V. 

Heed  not  thou  their  envious  tongue, 
Straight  to  the  mark  advance  thy  bow ; 

21 


Whither,  brave  spirit,  shall  thy  song 
Throw  the  shaft  of  glory  now  ? 

Lo  it  flies,  by  Justice  sent, 

Full  at  famous  Agrigent ; 

While  truth  inspires  me  thus  to 
swear, 

That  Time  shall  waste  his  hundredth 
year 

Ere  race  or  realm  a  King  shall  raise, 
Whose  liberal  heart,  whose  loaded 
hand 

Shall  paragon  with  Theron’s  praise, 

Or  strew,  like  his,  its  blessings  through 
the  land. 


EPODE  V. 

Yet  e’en  his  virtues  to  assail 

Hath  headstrong  Envy  spurred  injus¬ 
tice  forth. 

Plotting  with  hostile  arm,  and  slanderous 
tale, 

To  hide  in  mischief’s  shade  the  lamp 
of  worth. 

But,  if  the  numberer  toils  in  vain 

To  count  the  sands  that  heap  the  wave- 
w'orn  beach ; 


22 


The  joys,  the  graces  of  his  bounteous 
reign 

What  memory  can  record  ?  What  soar¬ 
ing  song  can  reach  ? 


23 


ODE  III. 

TO  THE  SAME  THERON 


STROPHE  I. 

To  please  the  bright-haired  Helen,  and 
the  Twins 

Of  Tyndarus,  gods  of  hospitable  love, 
With  Agrigent’s  renown  my  boast  be¬ 
gins ; 


24 


While  wreaths  for  Theron  from  the 
Olympian  grove, 

Borne  by  the  unwearied  steeds  away, 

I  twine.  For  this  beside  me  stood 

The  inspiring  Muse,  and  to  the 
Dorian  mood 

Tuned  for  her  glorious  choir  my  new- 
embellisht  lay. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Those  high-tost  heads,  with  glittering 
chaplets  bound, 

Challenge  my  spirit  to  this  task  divine, 

The  shrill-toned  pipe,  the  varying  lyre  to 
sound 

In  full  concordance  to  the  swelling 
line, 

Which  thus,  iEnesidamus,  throws 

On  thy  brave  son  its  mingled  praise  — 

Applauding  Pisa  too  demands  my 
lays, 

Whence  many  a  heaven-taught  hymn 
for  conquering  champions  flows : 


25 


EPODE  I. 

Champions,  whose  brows  the  -/Etolian 
seer, 

That  gives  the  Herculean  mandates  old, 

The  Game’s  unerring  arbiter, 

Bids  Victory’s  graceful  prize  enfold  : 

He  round  their  locks  the  silvery  olive 
flings ; 

Whose  leaves  of  yore  Amphitryon’s  son, 

To  frame  Olympia’s  matchless  crown. 

From  freezing  regions  brought,  and 
Ister’s  shadowy  springs. 

STROPHE  II. 

He  the  Hyperborean  tribes  and  chief¬ 
tains  wild, 

That  bend  the  knee  before  Apollo’s 
shrine, 

Peaceful  besought;  and  with  persuasion 
mild, 

To  form  his  Sire’s  capacious  grove 
divine, 

The  conqueror’s  wreath,  the  stranger’s 
shade, 

Won  the  fair  plant :  for  on  the  plain 

2  6 


BOSTON  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 
CHESTNUT  HILL.  MASS. 


Jove’s  altar  smoked,  and  from  her  golden 
wain 

The  Moon  with  rounded  orb,  Eve’s 
radiant  eye  displayed. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Then  too,  the  pure  Tribunal  to  preside 

At  his  Great  Games,  the  proud  Quin¬ 
quennial  Feast 

’Stablisht  had  he  by  Alpheus*  sacred 
tide ; 

Yet  not,  as  now,  then  waved  the  Cro- 
nian  waste 

With  woods  umbrageous ;  but  on  high, 

When  Pelops  held  his  ruder  reign, 

The  dazzling  sun-beam  smote  the  un¬ 
sheltered  plain ; 

’T  was  then  the  tracts  he  sought,  that 
skirt  the  Arctoi’c  sky. 

EPODE  II. 

Him  there  Latona’s  huntress-child 

From  fair  Arcadia’s  vales  received, 

Deep  winding  vales  and  mountains 
wild ; 


27 


What  time  by  stern  Eurystheus  grieved 

Necessity,  that  bound  his  Sire  in 
heaven, 

Tasked  him  in  that  bleak  waste  to 
find 

The  golden-horned  and  sacred  hind, 

To  chaste  Orthosia’s  shrine  by  fair 
Atlantis  given. 

STROPHE  III. 

Bent  on  the  search,  beyond  where 
Boreas  brewed 

His  wintry  blast,  wondrous  the  realm 
he  found, 

Their  groves  with  fond  desire  admir¬ 
ing  viewed, 

And  thence,  his  Hippodrome’s  twelve- 
circled  round 

To  shade,  the  adopted  plant  removed. 

Still  with  the  godlike  Twins,  of  yore 

Whom  Leda’s  ample  zone  prolific 
bore, 

Oft  to  that  feast  he  comes,  and  cheers 
the  toils  he  loved. 


28 


ANTISTROPHE  III. 


Them,  when  the  Hero  mounted  to  the 
spheres, 

To  guard  his  Games,  where  might  for 
mastery  strives 

With  might,  and  skill  the  raging  chariot 
steers, 

He  charged :  to  them  my  soul  for 
Theron  gives 

The  glory  of  the  dazzling  prize  : 

Them,  lords  and  lovers  of  the  race, 

The  Emmenian  Tribe  salutes,  their 
favouring  grace 

With  costliest  banquets  won,  and  fre¬ 
quent  sacrifice. 

EPODE  III. 

Such  their  rewards,  whose  customs 
most, 

Whose  hearts  the  Gods  in  reverence 
hold. 

As  water  still  is  Nature’s  boast, 

And  all  Earth’s  treasures  yield  to 
gold, 

Theron  hath  reached  the  limitary  main, 

29 


And  touched  with  virtues  all  his  own, 
The  Herculean  pillars  of  renown, 

Wit’s,  Folly’s  farthest  bound,  where  song 
pursues  in  vain. 


30 


ODE  IV. 

TO  PSAUMIS  OF  CAMARINA 
Victor  in  the  Chariot-race 

STROPHE 

O  Thou,  that  drivest  in  clouds  above 
The  impetuous  thunder,  mighty  Jove  ! 
Me  with  my  lyre  and  varying  strain 
Thy  circling  Hours  have  sent  again 
Their  tuneful  witness,  to  proclaim 

31 


The  glories  of  thy  matchless  Game. 

At  Virtue’s  weal  the  just  rejoice,  and  bless 
The  tidings  of  a  friend’s  success. 

But  thou,  Saturnian  King,  that  dost  dis- 
play 

Through  ^Etna’s  range  thy  partial  sway  ; 
Beneath  whose  huge  tempestuous  cone 
The  hundred  heads  of  Typhon  groan, 

O  hear  the  advancing  choir  prolong, 
Moved  by  the  Graces,  their  triumphal 
song : 


ANTISTROPHE 

’T  is  Virtue’s  lamp,  whose  living  rays, 

Wide  as  her  rule,  for  ever  blaze ; 

Lo  where  it  beams  in  Psaumis’  car 

That  bears  the  Olympian  braid  from 
far, 

In  haste  the  blooming  glory  now 

To  bind  on  Camarina’s  brow. 

Heaven  speed  his  future  vows,  as  now 
my  lays 

With  note  sincere  his  virtues  praise. 

His  boast  to  rear,  to  rule  the  panting 
steed : 

All  guests  his  plenteous  banquets  feed ; 

32 


While  with  pure  heart  he  wooes  the 
hand 

Of  genial  Peace  to  bless  the  land. 

Ne’er  shall  untruth  these  lips  profane ; 
Trial ’s  the  only  test,  that  proves  the 
man. 


EPODE 

This  from  the  Lemnian  dames’  abuse 

Redeemed  the  son  of  Clymenus  : 

At  his  gray  locks  their  taunts  they 
played ; 

But  when  in  brazen  arms  arrayed 

The  incumbered  race  with  ease  he  won, 

And  calmly  claimed  the  unquestioned 
crown, 

To  much  abashed  Hypsipyle,  M  Even  me 

First  of  the  swift,  behold,”  said  he, 

u  Nor  less  in  strength  and  prowess  :  age’s 
snow 

On  youth’s  fair  front  will  sometimes 
grow; 

But  he,  that  does  the  deeds  of  manhood’s 
prime, 

May  without  blame  look  old  before  his 
time.” 


33 


ODE  V. 


TO  THE  SAME  PSAUMIS  OF  CAMARINA 

Victor  in  the  Race  of  Chariots  drawn  by 

Mules 


STROPHE  I. 

The  flower  of  all  the  Olympian  boughs, 
That  bind  exalted  Virtue’s  brows, 

Take,  Camarina,  with  delight; 

Take,  shining  Daughter  of  the  Sea, 

34 


What  the  swift  mules,  the  chariot  bright, 
The  conquering  Psaumis  brings  to  thee. 
Destined  thy  peopled  state  to  raise 
He,  at  the  Gods’  high  Festival, 

On  six  joint  hearths  his  offering  lays, 
While  incense  fumes  and  victims  fall. 
There  five  bright  days,  renown  to 
gain, 

Skill,  Bravery,  Strength,  the  strife 
maintain : 

There  yoked  or  mounted,  mule  and 
steed 

Through  all  the  swift  career 
Contest  the  panting  prize  of  speed. 

Thee  Acron’s  son  proclaiming  there, 
Hath  proudly  given  to  everlasting  fame 
His  country’s  rising  towers,  his  Sire’s 
ennobled  name. 

STROPHE  II. 

Returned  from  that  delightful  plain 
GEnomaus’  once  and  Pelops’  reign, 
Minerva’s  shrine,  whose  fostering 
power 

Guards  his  young  state,  he  hallows 
now, 


35 


Oanus*  stream  and  many  a  bower 
That  shades  the  glittering  lake  below ; 
Hallows  the  banks  and  solemn  clifts, 
Where  Hipparis’  wholesome  waters 
rove, 

Laving  his  peopled  realm.  He  lifts 
The  pillared  pile,  the  marble  grove, 
Whereon  his  princely  chambers  rise 
In  swelling  domes,  that  crown  the 
skies. 

Thus  his  rude  tribes,  untrained, 
unformed 

He  rears  to  life  and  light : 

For  Toil  and  Wealth  by  Virtue 
warmed 

Ever  with  Difficulty  fight ; 

While  Enterprise  no  threatening  danger 
scares, 

And  all-adored  Success  the  palm  of 
Wisdom  wears. 

STROPHE  III. 

O  Thou,  that  dwellest  in  clouds  above 
The  Cronian  Mount,  Preserver  Jove, 
Whose  favour  still  pursues  the  wave 
That  wandering  Alpheus  pours  along, 

36 


Still  beams  on  Ida’s  awful  cave, 

To  thee  thy  suppliant  rears  his  song; 

In  Lydian  strain  implores  thy  grace 
Long  on  this  rising  realm  to  wait, 

And  send  a  sound  adventurous  race 
To  guard  and  signalize  their  state. 

Thee,  too,  by  victory  taught  to  breed 
And  cherish  the  Neptunian  steed, 

Thee,  Psaumis,  grant  the  indulgent 
Power 

A  calm  old  age  to  bear, 

And  meet  unmoved  the  parting  hour, 
With  all  thy  children  standing  near. 

If  Wealth  and  Worth  and  Happiness  and 
Fame 

Be  thine,  among  the  Gods  seek  not  to 
inscribe  thy  name. 


3  7 


ODE  VI. 

TO  AGESIAS  THE  SYRACUSIAN 

Victor  in  the  Race  of  Chariots  drawn 

by  Mules 


STROPHE  I. 

Pillars  of  gold  our  portal  to  sustain, 

As  for  some  proud  and  princely  Place, 
We  ’ll  rear  :  the  founder  of  the  strain 
With  far-refulgent  front  his  opening 
work  should  grace. 

And  if  there  be,  who  boasts  the 
Olympian  braid, 

38 


Whose  priestly  lips  prophetic  truths 
diffuse 

At  Jove’s  Pisaean  altar;  one,  whose  aid 

Hath  helpt  to  raise  illustrious  Syracuse  ; 

Where  are  the  high-wrought  hymns,  the 
glowing  lays 

His  country’s  lavish  love  shall  swell  not 
with  his  praise  ? 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Know,  son  of  Sostratus,  that  Heaven 
hath  made 

This  sandal  for  thy  foot  divine. 

Virtue,  by  peril  unassayed, 

On  land  or  tranquil  wave  in  honour 
ne’er  can  shine. 

The  adventurous  deed  a  thousand  hearts 
record. 

To  thee  the  praise,  Agesias,  all  shall 
yield, 

On  CEcleus’  son  Amphiaraiis  poured 

By  just  Adrastus  in  the  fatal  field, 

When  in  Earth’s  yawning  gulf  the  as¬ 
tounded  seer 

Sunk  with  his  snorting  steeds,  chariot 
and  charioteer. 


39 


EPODE  I. 

’T  was  there,  when  round  the  heroic 
dead 

Seven  Theban  pyres  were  seen  to 
burn, 

Sorrowing  the  son  of  Talaus  said, 

M  The  eye  of  all  my  host  I  mourn  : 

His  searching  soul  the  future  knew  ; 

His  spear  controlled  the  raging  fray  ”  — 

Such  is  the  Syracusian  too, 

The  master  of  my  lay. 

Nor  brawl,  nor  paradox  I  love ; 

I  hate  with  cavillers  to  contend  ; 

But  this  my  surest  oath  I ’ve  pledged  to 
prove 

And  the  mellifluous  Muse  her  lasting  aid 
shall  lend. 

STROPHE  II. 

Bring  forth  thy  mules,  O  Phintis,  and 
behind 

In  haste  the  glittering  harness  join, 

With  me  thy  chariot  mount  and  find 

Along  yon  spacious  road  the  cradle  of 
his  line. 


40 


Full  well,  I  ween,  the  illustrious  track 
they  know, 

Learnt  from  the  plaudits  of  the  Olympian 
throng 

That  crowned  their  necks  with  glory. 
Open  throw 

To  their  careering  speed  the  gates  of 
song. 

To-day  we  press  for  Pitana,  and  lave 

Ere  night  our  burning  team  in  cool 
Eurotas’  wave. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Fair  Pitana,  by  Neptune’s  amorous 
prayer 

Pressed,  as  they  tell,  her  charms  to  yield, 

The  violet-tressed  Evadne  bare. 

She  in  her  anxious  breast  the  virgin  pang 
concealed 

Till,  past  the  painful  hour,  a  trusty  train 

Charged  with  the  pledge  of  her  ce¬ 
lestial  love 

To  iTpytus  she  sent,  who  ruled  the 
plain, 

Where  Alpheus’  waves  by  famed 
Phaesana  rove. 

41 


There  nurtured,  with  Apollo  tasted 
she 

The  tempting  fruit  that  grows  on  Love’s 
forbidden  tree. 

EPODE  II. 

Escaped  not  long  the  guardian  King 

Her  altering  form,  the  stolen  em¬ 
brace  : 

Rage  and  regret  his  bosom  wring  ; 

Where,  burying  still  the  unknown  dis¬ 
grace, 

Forthwith  the  Delphian  Fane  he 
sought. 

Meanwhile  to  shadiest  covert  lone 

Her  silver  urn  the  damsel  brought ; 

There  loosed  her  purple  zone, 

And  bore  the  godlike  babe  unseen 

Filled  with  the  spirit  of  his  Sire ; 

Who  with  his  golden  locks  and  grace¬ 
ful  mien 

The  assistant  Fates  had  won,  and 
soothed  Eleutho’s  ire. 


STROPHE  III. 


Forth  from  her  arms  with  short  and 
grateful  throe 

Came  Iamus  to  light :  her  child 

On  the  Earth  she  left  o’erwhelmed 
with  woe  : 

Him  there  two  Serpent  forms  with  eyes 
of  azure  mild, 

Mysterious  ministers  of  love  divine, 

Fed  with  the  baneless  beverage  of  the 
bee : 

When  now  from  rocky  Pytho’s  warn¬ 
ing  shrine 

In  haste  the  King  returned,  and  ear¬ 
nestly 

From  all  his  questioned  household  ’gan 
require 

Evadne’s  new-born  son,  —  “For  Phoe¬ 
bus  is  his  sire, 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

“  Destined  before  all  mortals  to  prevail 

The  peerless  prophet  of  mankind  ; 

Whose  race,  whose  name  shall  never 
fail.” 


43 


Thus  represented  he :  they  with  one 
voice  combined 

All  vowed  their  ignorance :  nor  sight 
had  seen, 

Nor  infant  sound  had  heard :  for  he 
five  days 

’Mong  shrubs  and  pathless  briars  and 
rushes  green 

Had  lain,  the  dewy  violet’s  mingled  rays 

Sprinkling  with  purple  and  gold  his  ten¬ 
der  frame : 

Whence  fond  Evadne’s  joy  proclaimed 
his  deathless  name. 

EPODE  III. 

Now  when  fresh  youth  its  golden 
flower 

Full  o’er  his  blooming  cheeks  had 
strewed, 

Alone  at  night’s  tempestuous  hour 

In  Alpheus’  midmost  stream  he  stood. 

He  called  his  grandsire  Neptune’s  name, 

Wide  Ruler  of  the  boisterous  deep  ; 

Called  on  that  Archer  God  whose  flame 

Beams  on  the  Delian  steep ; 

For  patriot  fame  he  poured  his  prayer 

44 


Beneath  the  vault  of  heaven  :  w  My 
son,” 

Replied  his  Sire’s  unerring  speech, 
w  repair 

To  yon  frequented  tract,  my  Word  shall 
lead  thee  on.” 

STROPHE  IV. 

Forthwith  they  stood  on  Cronium’s 
topmost  stone, 

High  as  the  sun’s  meridian  road ; 

There  paused  the  God,  and  on  his 
son 

The  rich  and  twofold  boon  of  prophecy 
bestowed  : 

Gave  him  to  hear  the  voice  that  can¬ 
not  lie ; 

Bade  him,  when  Hercules  in  after-days, 

Flower  of  the  great  Alcaean  progeny, 

His  Sire’s  frequented  Festival  should 
raise 

And  proud  Olympian  Game,  by  gift 
divine 

On  Jove’s  high  altar  plant  his  oracle  and 
shrine. 


45 


ANTISTROPHE  IV. 


Thence  through  all  Greece  the  seed  of 
Iamus 

Bright  Honour  followed ;  in  its  train 

Came  potent  Wealth ;  the  virtuous 
thus 

To  Fame’s  conspicuous  path  by  action 
proved  attain. 

Yet  envious  hearts  there  are  no  worth 
can  warm ; 

Which  e’en  the  chariot-crown  with 
rancour  fills 

’Gainst  modest  Merit ;  o’er  whose 
brightening  form 

Victory  her  own  ingenuous  grace  dis¬ 
tils. 

If  yet,  Agesias,  thy  maternal  race, 

Whose  affluent  dwellings  rose  by  old 
Cyllene’s  base, 

EPODE  IV. 

Have  knelt  at  Mercury’s  sacred  shrine 

The  swift-winged  herald  of  the  skies, 

With  soothing  prayers  and  gifts  divine ; 

(He  guards  the  games,  allots  the  prize, 

4  6 


And  loves  Arcadia’s  youth) ;  ’t  was  he, 

Aided  by  thundering  Jove’s  regard, 

Gave,  son  of  Sostratus,  to  thee 

Thy  conquest  and  reward  — 

A  prompting  power,  methinks,  I  feel 

A  sharpening  whetstone  on  my  tongue ; 

That  stirs  my  flowing  numbers  to 
reveal 

Our  old  Arcadian  root,  and  leads  the 
willing  song. 

STROPHE  V. 

’T  was  fair  Metope’s  love,  Stympha- 
lian  spouse, 

To  Thebes  equestrian  Thebe  gave; 

In  whose  sweet  fount,  for  warriors’ 
brows 

Weaving  the  various  hymn,  my  tuneful 
lips  I  lave. 

Rise,  iEneas,  and  enjoin  thy  swelling 
choirs 

To  sing  Parthenian  Juno,  then  declare, 

If  the  stale  stigma  that  belied  our 
Sires, 

(Boeotian  boars,  forsooth  !)  we  still  shall 
bear. 


4  7 


Thou  art  Truth’s  harbinger,  the  Muse’s 
tongue, 

Her  mystic  staff,  the  cup  that  pours  her 
potent  song. 

ANTISTROPHE  V. 

Bid  them  remember  Syracuse,  and 
sing 

Of  proud  Ortygia’s  throne,  secure 

In  Hiero’s  rule,  her  upright  king. 

With  frequent  prayer  he  serves  and 
worship  pure 

The  rosy-sandalled  Ceres,  and  her 
fair 

Daughter,  whose  car  the  milk-white 
steeds  impel, 

And  Jove,  whose  might  the  JE tnaean 
fires  declare. 

The  lay,  the  sweet-toned  lyre  his  praises 
tell ; 

Time,  mar  not  his  success !  with  wel¬ 
come  sweet 

Agesias’  choral  pomp  his  liberal  smile 
shall  greet. 


48 


EPODE  V. 


Lo  from  Arcadia’s  parent  seat, 

Her  old  Stymphalian  walls,  they  come, 
From  fields  with  flocks  o’erspread,  to 
meet 

Sicilia’s  swains,  from  home  to  home. 
O’er  the  swift  prow,  when  night-storms 
lour, 

Two  anchors  oft  ’t  is  well  to  cast  — 
Heaven  on  them  both  its  blessings  pour, 
And  bid  their  glories  last. 

Lord  of  the  main  !  direct  aright, 

With  toils  unvext  their  prosperous 
way ; 

Spouse  of  the  golden-wanded  Amphi- 
trite, 

With  lovelier  hues  enrich  the  flowers 
that  crown  my  lay. 


49 


ODE  VII. 

TO  DIAGORAS  OF  RHODES 
Victor  in  the  Game  of  Boxing 


STROPHE  I. 

As  one,  whose  wealthy  hands  enfold 
The  sparkling  cup  of  massy  gold 
Frothed  with  the  vineyard’s  purple  tide, 
His  Banquet’s  grace,  his  Treasure’s 
pride, 

Presents  it  to  the  youthful  spouse 
Pledged  in  full  draught  from  house  to 
house  j 


50 


And  thus  affection’s  honours  fondly  paid, 
While  on  the  soft  connubial  hour 
Encircling  friends  their  blessings  pour, 
Gives  to  his  envied  arms  the  coy  con¬ 
senting  maid. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Thus  to  the  Youth,  whose  conquering 
brow 

The  Olympian  wears  or  Pythian  bough, 
Lord  of  his  hope,  inspired  I  pay 
The  tribute  of  my  liquid  lay, 

The  nectar  of  the  Muse’s  bowl, 

Prest  from  the  clusters  of  the  soul. 

Blest  they,  whose  deeds  applauding 
worlds  admire  ! 

For  them,  as  each  her  glance  par¬ 
takes, 

The  life-enlightening  Grace  awakes 
The  various  vocal  flute,  the  sweet 
melodious  lyre. 


EPODE  I. 

To-day  the  lyre  and  flute  and  song, 
Roused  by  Diagoras,  I  move, 

51 


Hymning  fair  Rhode  from  Venus 
sprung, 

The  Sun’s  own  Nymph  and  watery 
love : 

With  her  the  giant  boxer’s  praise  to 
sound, 

The  champion’s  noblest  hire, 

By  Alpheus’  stream,  Castalia’s  foun¬ 
tain  crowned ; 

And  Damagete  his  old  and  upright  Sire, 
Pride  of  the  beauteous  Isle,  whose  Argive 
host 

By  Asia’s  beaked  shore  three  Sovereign 
Cities  boast. 

STROPHE  II. 

Fain  would  my  lay  their  legends  trace, 
Divine  Alcides’  powerful  race 
From  old  Tlepolemus,  and  prove 
Their  boasted  Sire’s  descent  from  Jove, 
Amyntor’s  fair  Astydame 
The  root  of  their  maternal  tree. 

But  o’er  men’s  hearts  unnumbered  errors 
hang ; 

Nor  can  dim  Reason’s  glimmering 
show 


52 


The  flowery  path  untrod  by  woe, 

Or  find  the  day’s  delight,  that  brings  no 
morrow’s  pang. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

For  even  the  founder  chief,  that 
planned 

The  fortunes  of  this  prosperous  land, 
With  olive  club  by  rage  impelled, 
Alcmena’s  spurious  brother  felled : 

Midst  Tiryns’  walls  by  Midea’s  side 
In  her  own  porch  Licymnius  died. 

Alas !  not  Wisdom’s  self  has  power  to 
quell 

The  furious  passions,  when  they  meet 
To  tear  her  from  her  judgment-seat ! 
Distracted  at  the  deed  he  sought  the 
Delphian  cell. 

EPODE  II. 

Apollo  waved  his  golden  locks, 

And  warned  him  from  his  fragrant 
fane, 

Forthwith  to  steer  from  Lerna’s  rocks 
For  the  rich  realm  amidst  the  main, 

53 


Where  erst  with  golden  shower  im¬ 
perial  Jove 

Bedewed  the  wondering  town ; 

What  time  his  brazen  axe  stout 
Vulcan  drove, 

And  Pallas  from  the  Thunderer's  rifted 
crown 

With  outcry  loud  and  long  impetuous 
broke ; 

Heaven  shuddered,  and  old  Earth  with 
dread  maternal  shook. 

STROPHE  III. 

'T  was  then  Hyperion's  son  divine, 

Lamp  of  the  world,  his  Rhodian  line 

In  haste  enjoined  with  duteous  eye 

To  watch  the  expected  prodigy; 

That  first  of  mortal  votaries  they 

Their  shining  altar  might  display, 

Jove  and  the  Virgin  of  the  Thundering 
Spear 

The  first  with  solemn  rites  to  soothe. 

Precaution  thus  the  paths  of  Truth 

To  Virtue’s  footstep  shows,  and  cheers 
her  rough  career. 

54 


ANTISTROPHE  III. 


Yet  oft  before  the  wariest  eyes 

Mists  of  forgetfulness  arise, 

And  unexpectedly  betray 

The  wandering  purpose  from  its  way. 

*T  was  thus,  the  seeds  of  fire  forgot, 

Their  high-built  shrine  the  Rhodians 
sought, 

With  unburnt  offerings  heaped ;  yet 
showers  of  gold 

Jove  poured  upon  them  from  the 
cloud ; 

And  Pallas’  self  their  hands  endowed 

With  more  than  mortal  skill  her  rarest 
works  to  mould. 

EPODE  III. 

Spread  far  and  wide  their  various 
praise : 

In  all  mysterious  crafts  they  shone, 

Strewed  over  their  walls,  their  public 
ways, 

The  sculptured  life,  the  breathing  stone. 

’T  was  Genius  strengthened  by  the 
toils  of  Art. 


SS 


Yet  once,  as  stories  say, 

When  Jove  Earth’s  ample  field  to  part 
’Mongst  all  the  gods  decreed,  the  Lord 
of  Day 

Above  the  waves  saw  not  the  Rhodian 
steep, 

By  fate  still  bound  within  the  dungeon 
of  the  deep. 

STROPHE  IV. 

Absent  on  function  high  the  lot 
Of  the  bright  Sun  his  peers  forgot ; 

And  he  the  purest  of  the  skies 
Shared  not  the  rich  terrestrial  prize. 
Warned  of  the  wrong,  high  Jove 
again 

The  partial  lots  proposed,  in  vain ; 

M  For  that  mine  eye  discerns,”  the  Sun 
replied, 

“  A  region  gathering  from  the  ground, 
For  man’s  delight  all  planted  round 
With  fruits  and  pastures  fair  beneath 
the  foaming  tide.” 


56 


ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

Forthwith  commanded  he  to  rise 
The  golden-vested  Lachesis, 

With  lifted  hand  and  fatal  nod 
To  give  the  sanction  of  a  god, 

Joined  with  Saturnian  Jove,  and  swear, 
When  time  that  shoal  to  heaven  should 
rear, 

Its  realm  his  boon  should  be.  The 
pledge  divine 

On  Truth’s  unfailing  pinion  flew; 
Promise  to  Consummation  grew  ; 

Up  sprung  the  beauteous  isle  and  budded 
from  the  brine. 

EPODE  IV. 

His  blooming  lot  the  genial  Sire, 

That  frames  the  pointed  beams  of  day, 
That  rules  the  steeds  whose  breath  is  fire, 
Received.  There  oft  with  Rhode  he 
lay ; 

Till  seven  brave  sons  with  match¬ 
less  wisdom  fraught, 

Their  fruitful  raptures  crowned. 

The  first  Ialysus  begot, 

57 


And  Lindus,  and  Cameirus :  they,  their 
bound 

Paternal  into  three  partitions  thrown, 
Each  chose  his  several  realm,  and 
named  it  for  his  own. 

STROPHE  V. 

Tlepolemus,  whose  high  command 
Once  led  the  brave  Tirynthian  band, 
There,  as  a  god,  due  honours  knows, 

The  rich  rewards  of  all  his  woes, 

Victims  on  fuming  altars  slain, 

Umpires  and  Games  to  grace  the  plain. 
There  twice  the  stout  Diagoras  was 
crowned ; 

Four  times  from  Isthmian  lists  he  bore 
The  mantling  wreath,  and  many  more 
From  Nemea’s  crowded  grove  and  rough 
Athenae’s  mound. 

ANTISTROPHE  V. 

Him  Argos  with  her  brazen  shield 
Endowed ;  him  fair  Arcadia's  field ; 

Him  Thebes,  and  all  the  heroic  games 
Which  old  Boeotia’s  custom  claims  ; 

58 


Angina  him  her  champion  shows  ; 

Him  six  times  crowned  Pellene  knows, 

And  Megara’s  stone,  o’erblazoned  with 
his  praise. 

O  thou,  that  rearest  thy  temple  bleak 

On  Atabyrium’s  topmost  peak, 

Great  Jove,  with  favour  hear  our  loud 
triumphal  lays. 

EPODE  V. 

Raise  thou  the  man,  whose  arm  hath 
found 

Renown  in  famed  Olympia’s  vale ; 

Bid  citizens  his  deeds  resound, 

Strangers  his  name  with  reverence  hail. 

Just,  like  his  upright  sires,  unblamed 
he  walks 

His  unpresumptuous  way. 

Hide  not  his  race  from  good  Callianax, 

His  tribe  Eratian  tell :  for  him  to-day 

The  whole  state  feasts  —  but  in  a 
moment’s  change 

To  every  point  the  gusts  of  public 
favour  range. 


59 


ODE  VIII. 

TO  ALCIMEDON  AND  TIMOSTHENES  HIS 

BROTHER 

Victors  among  the  Youths  in  Wrestling , 
the  former  at  the  Olympic ,  the  latter 
at  the  Nemean  Games 


STROPHE  I. 

Olympia,  mother  of  the  Games, 

Where  Worth  his  golden  chaplet  claims  ; 


Mistress  of  Truth;  whose  fate-explor¬ 
ing  Priest 

From  the  slain  victim  learns,  if  high¬ 
est  Jove, 

Whose  hand  the  dazzling  thunder 
throws, 

Views  with  regard  the  dauntless  breast, 

That,  fired  with  Virtue’s  noblest  love, 

Pants  but  for  Fame  and  Victory’s  sweet 
repose. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Such  blazon  gracious  Heaven  allows 

To  prophets’  pure  and  pious  vows. 

But  thou,  Pisaean  Grove,  whose 
branches  wave 

O’er  Alpheus’  stream,  accept  the 
wreaths  I  bear, 

Triumphal  strains.  A  deathless  name 

Thy  glorious  guerdon  gives  the  brave. 

Not  all  the  same  distinctions  share : 

Various  the  paths  divine,  that  lead  to 
fame. 


6 1 


EPODE  I. 

You,  valiant  youths,  kind  Destiny 
consigned 

To  Jove  your  natal  genius:  he  thy 
name, 

Timosthenes,  proclaimed  in  Nemea’s 
Game, 

While  Pisa’s  wreaths  Alcimedon  en¬ 
twined  : 

Of  beauty’s  manliest  mould  was  he  ; 

Nor  failed  his  act  the  warrant  of  his 
face  ; 

Crowned  with  the  Wrestler’s  victory 

iEgina’s  isle  he  named  his  native  place  : 

Where  all  to  Themis  bow,  that  sits 
above, 

Saviour  at  once  and  judge,  by  Hospitable 
Jove, 


STROPHE  II. 

No  where  so  reverenced.  Hard  it  is 
Where  interests  clash  and  contests 
rise 

To  meet  the  occasion,  yet  with  judg¬ 
ment  pure 


62 


The  scales  of  right  sustain.  By  Heav¬ 
en’s  decree 

That  sea-girt  isle  thus  proudly  stands 

(Still  strengthening  Time  its  weal  se¬ 
cure), 

Like  some  blest  column  in  the  sea, 

To  invite  and  guide  all  strangers  from 
all  lands ; 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Still  ruling  with  her  Dorian  line 

The  realm  of  iEacus  divine  : 

Whom  fair  Latona’s  son  with  Neptune 
paired, 

Toiling  round  Troy  to  rear  the  tow¬ 
ering  wall, 

Leagued  in  her  work  :  her  fatal  hour 

By  that  portentous  choice  declared, 

That  her  proud  domes  in  fight  should 
fall, 

And  hostile  fires  her  smouldering  fanes 
devour. 


63 


EPODE  II. 

Scarce  perfect  was  the  pile,  when  up 
the  tower 

Three  azure  serpents  leapt ;  and  from 
the  side 

Two,  as  with  horror  thrilled,  recoiled, 
and  died  : 

Yelling  the  third  rushed  on  with  gath¬ 
ered  power  — 

The  portent  strange  Apollo  views, 

And  pondering  briefly  thus :  tc  Devoted 
Troy, 

Thy  help,  ill-omened  Hero,  rues ; 

Thy  mortal  work  her  empire  shall 

Yet  not  without  thy  sons ;  for  ’t  is  de¬ 
creed 

The  first  and  fourth  of  thine  must  mingle 
in  that  deed. 


STROPHE  III. 

u  Thus  Saturn’s  seed,  the  thundering 
Jove 

In  vision  shows  me  from  above.” 

64 


That  warning  given,  Xanthus  in  haste 
he  reached. 

The  mounted  Amazons  and  Ister’s 
stream 

Surveyed.  Towards  Isthmus  by  the 
main 

As  swift  the  Trident-bearer  stretched; 

But  first  he  stayed  his  golden  team, 

While  ^Eacus  regained  .Egina’s  plain. 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

Thence  o’er  proud  Corinth,  to  inspect 

Her  glorious  Feast,  his  chariot  checked. 

Not  all  with  equal  favour  all  things 
see : 

His  beardless  rivals  conquered  should 
my  string 

Sound  for  Meilesias,  Envy’s  hand 

Fling  not  the  pointed  stone  at  me ; 

For  I  his  Nemean  Feats  will  sing, 

And  rough  Pancratian  fray  with  men 
maintained. 


65 


EPODE  III. 


With  ease  from  Wisdom’s  lips  in¬ 
struction  flows ; 

Which  unprepared  fools  only  will  dis¬ 
pense  ; 

For  weak  ’s  the  wit  of  Inexperience. 

Perfect  beyond  his  peers  Meilesias  knows 

The  Athletic  discipline  and  plan, 

That,  when  the  Game  shall  rouse  him 
to  the  fray, 

Harden  and  frame  the  practised  man. 

To  bear  the  adored  and  dangerous 
prize  away. 

To-day  his  boast  Alcimedon  must  be, 

The  thirtieth  youth  his  art  hath  trained 
for  victory. 

STROPHE  IV. 

He  with  the  smiles  of  Fortune  bright, 

Nor  wanting  valour’s  manliest  might, 

Hath  to  four  hapless  youths  victorious 
doomed 

The  hateful  return,  the  path  obscure,  the 
tale 

Of  shame ;  and  in  his  grandsire’s  heart 

66 


Youth’s  long-extinguished  lamp  relumed: 
When  Glory’s  cheering  beams  prevail, 
Old  age  revives,  and  death  forgets  his 
dart. 


ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

Now  let  the  loud-recording  lay 

Awaken  Memory  to  display 

What  feats,  what  triumphs  in  the 
manual  war 

The  Blepsian  tribe  achieved  —  Gained 
from  the  Games 

On  their  proud  busts  six  chaplets  bloom. 

Their  kindred’s  rite  the  dead  shall  share  : 

Its  praise  departed  Virtue  claims  ; 

The  trump  of  Glory  echoes  in  the  tomb. 

EPODE  IV. 

From  Fame,  the  child  of  Hermes, 
Iphion 

Heard  ere  he  died,  and  shall  delighted  tell 

Callimachus  the  Olympian  crown  that 
fell 

By  Jove’s  good  gift  to  his  distin¬ 
guished  son. 

67 


Still  may  the  god  his  blessings  shower 

On  their  fair  deeds,  and  chase  disease 
away ; 

Nor  Nemesis  send  with  vengeful  power 

To  thwart  the  promise  of  their  pros¬ 
perous  day. 

Grant  them  long  life,  to  Fortune’s  ills 
unknown, 

Their  country’s  weal  enhance,  and  crown 
it  with  their  own. 


68 


ODE  IX. 

TO  EPHARMOSTUS,  THE  OPUNTIAN 

Victor  in  the  Game  of  Wrestling 


STROPHE  I. 

Archilochus’  resounding  strain 
The  victor’s  ancient  lay,  thrice  chanted 
loud, 

Sufficed  along  the  Olympian  plain 
By  Cronium’s  mount  to  lead  the  exulting 
crowd, 

The  friends  by  Epharmostus’  side 
That  swelled  the  full  triumphal  tide. 

69* 


But  from  the  distant-dealing  bow 
To-day *t  is  thine  the  shaft  to  throw, 
The  Muse’s  shaft,  that  mounts  above 
E’en  to  the  purple-bolted  Jove 
And  Elis*  sacred  Promontory ; 

Whose  realm,  CEnomaiis*  power  o’er- 
thrown, 

Pelops  the  Lydian  hero  won, 
Hippodamia’s  fairest  dowry. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Send  now  thy  sweet,  thy  winged  reed, 

At  Pytho’s  field :  the  bard,  whose  thrill¬ 
ing  string 

Resounds  the  manly  wrestler’s  deed 
From  glorious  Opus,  stoops  not  on  the 
wing, 

No  vulgar  flight  pursues,  the  praise 
Of  Opus  and  her  son  to  raise  : 

Where  Themis  and  her  child  sedate, 
Eunomia,  famed,  preserve  the  state. 

On  Alpheus*  banks  her  glories  gleam 
And  bloom  by  pure  Castalia’s  stream 
From  whence  by  minstrels  plucked  the 
flowers 

Of  all  their  blended  chaplets  grace 

70 


The  mother  of  the  Locrian  race, 

Midst  her  deep  woods  and  waving 
bowers. 

EPODE  I. 

Thus  while  her  favoured  City  glows 
With  the  full  radiance  of  my  lay. 

Swifter  than  generous  steed,  or  bark 
that  throws 

Her  swelling  wings  along  the  watery 
way, 

I  ’ll  spread  the  tale  through  every  land, 

If  blest  by  Heaven  this  tuneful  hand 
Cultures  the  Graces’  choicest  field ; 

For  they  all  mortal  transports  yield, 

And  wit  and  valour  wait  on  their  divine 
command. 

STROPHE  II. 

By  them  inspired  Alcides  dared 
With  club  terrestrial  brave  the  Trident’s 
might ; 

What  time  the  Pylian  towers  to  guard 
Neptune  his  rage  withstood.  The  Lord 
of  Light 


7 1 


Advanced  his  silver-sounding  bow, 

And  warred  against  the  heroic  foe. 

Nor  e’en  in  Hades’  rueful  hand 
Unbrandished  hung  the  infernal  wand, 
Wherewith  men’s  mortal  forms  are 
led 

To  the  hollow  city  of  the  dead  — 
Renounce,  my  lips,  the  verse  profane  ! 
’T  is  hateful  wit  at  gods  to  rail : 
Vain-glory’s  impious  ill-timed  tale 
Sounds  but  of  Frenzy’s  thoughtless 
strain. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Babble  no  more  of  themes  like  these, 
Nor  mix  with  fabled  war  the  immortal 
Powers : 

Sing  rather  thou  with  blameless  lays 
Protogeneia’s  ancient  towers; 

Where  by  Jove’s  hest  in  thunder  heard 
Man’s  first  abode  Deucalion  reared, 
When  from  Parnassus’  glittering  crown 
With  Pyrrha  paired  the  Seer  came 
down. 

Behind  them  rose  their  unborn  sons, 
The  new-named  laity  of  stones, 

72 


A  homogeneous  mortal  throng : 

For  them  thy  sounding  numbers  raise, 

Nor,  when  old  wine  inflames  thy 
praise, 

Forget  the  flowers  of  modern  song. 
EPODE  II. 

Then,  as  they  tell,  a  deluge  raged 

O’er  the  sunk  Earth’s  opacous  plain  : 

Till  Jove’s  rebuke  the  wasteful  waves 
assuaged, 

And  pent  them  in  their  oozy  gulf 
again. 

Sprung  from  that  aged  ancestor 

Your  brazen-bucklered  sires  of  yore, 

(Blood,  that  from  old  Iapetus  runs 

And  dames  that  mixt  with  Saturn’s 
sons) 

A  line  of  genuine  kings  their  native 
sceptre  bore  ; 

/  STROPHE  III. 

E’er  since  the  Olympian  Leader’s  love 

Snatched  Opus’  daughter  from  the 
Epeian  plain 


7  3 


To  dark  Maenalia’s  conscious  grove, 

And  gave  her  back  to  Looms’  arms 
again ; 

Lest  age,  that  hastes  our  mortal  doom, 
Should  bear  him  childless  to  the  tomb. 

By  that  celestial  Power  comprest 
A  nobler  birth  the  matron  blest. 

The  good  old  Hero  hails  beguiled 
And  dotes  upon  the  imputed  child ; 

And  gives  him,  as  his  years  display 
Youth’s  comeliest  form  and  manhood’s 
lire, 

The  name,  that  graced  his  mother’s 
sire, 

To  boast,  a  peopled  realm  to  sway. 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

Strangers  unnumbered  round  his  throne, 
Argives,  and  Thebans,  and  Arcadians 
prest, 

Pisatians  too  ;  but  Actor’s  son 
Menaetius  most  his  high  regard  carest, 
Patroclus’  sire  :  on  Mysia’s  plain 
He  with  the  Atridae  leagued  in  vain, 
When  Telephus  the  Grecian  throng 
Back  on  their  barks  disordered  flung, 

74 


Alone  with  great  Achilles  stayed  : 
Heroes  his  act  with  shouts  surveyed  : 
And  Thetis’  son,  his  brave  compeer 
Implored  him  from  that  glorious  day 
No  more  to  meet  the  martial  fray 
Apart  from  his  all-conquering  spear. 

EPODE  III. 

O  !  for  a  spirit  that  could  bid 
New  words  and  quickening  thoughts 
to  rise, 

Of  skill  the  Muse’s  daring  car  to  guide 
In  all  the  might  of  genius  through  the 
skies  ! 

Then  would  I  come  with  glory’s  bay, 
While  Fame  and  Friendship  fired  my  lay, 
To  grace  the  brothers’  Isthmian  crown, 
The  prize  Lampromachus  had  won, 

The  twin  achievement  proud  of  one 
victorious  day. 

STROPHE  IV. 

Where  Corinth’s  portal  parts  the  main 
Two  triumphs  more  brave  Epharmostus 
gained ; 


7  5 


Others  on  Nemea’s  sheltered  plain  : 

He  from  the  Athenian  youths  the  prize 
obtained ; 

From  men  the  Argolic  shield  he  won  : 
Oh  !  what  a  strife  at  Marathon, 

With  beardless  foes  no  longer  paired, 
’Gainst  sturdier  age  the  stripling  dared  ! 
Himself  unfoiled  with  dexterous  bound 
He  writhed  and  whirled  them  to  the 
• 

Graced  with  the  goblet’s  silver  meed 
What  shouts,  what  plaudits  from  the 
throng 

Cheered,  as  the  champion  stalked  along, 
His  manly  port,  his  manlier  deed. 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

At  Jove’s  Lycaean  Feast  the  whole 
Parrhasian  host  marvelling  his  might 
surveyed ; 

Marvelled  Pellene,  when  the  Stole, 
Winter’s  warm  antidote,  his  bulk  dis¬ 
played. 

Witness  the  tomb,  where 
grace 

The  Games  of  godlike  Iolas ; 

76 


Thebans 


Witness  Eleusis’  wave-born  strand 
The  toils  and  triumphs  of  his  hand. 
From  Nature  all  perfections  flow: 

And  though  from  tasked  attention  slow 
Taught  excellence  will  sometimes  strain 
And  struggle  to  renown  ;  if  Heaven 
Has  not  the  inspiring  impulse  given, 

’T  is  silence  best  rewards  the  pain. 

EPODE  IV 

Life’s  walks  are  various  :  one  concern 
The  crowded  world  can  ne’er  sustain  : 
To  Fame’s  high  path  the  steps  of 
Genius  turn. 

Thy  gift  aloud  proclaim  ;  in  daring  strain 
Tell,  how  of  birth  propitious  sprung 
The  Oilean  Games  robust  and  young 
With  dexterous  arm  and  dauntless  eye 
Thy  champion  braved,  and  Victory 
With  all  his  glorious  wreaths  the  shrine 
of  Ajax  hung. 


77 


ODE  X. 

TO  AGESIDAMUS,  OF  LOCRIS  EPIZEPHYRIA 
Victorious  in  the  Game  of  Boxing 


STROPHE  I. 

Where  stands  Archestratus’  trium¬ 
phant  son, 

The  Olympic  victor,  written  on  my 
mind  ? 

My  promise  of  sweet  song  for  him 
designed 

Had  from  my  faithless  memory  flown. 

78 


But  thou,  O  Muse,  from  whom  no 
treachery  springs, 

And  Truth,  fair  daughter  of  high 
Jove, 

Lend  me  your  upright  efforts  to  re¬ 
move 

The  slur  that  Slander  on  mine  honour 
flings. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

’T  is  true  the  distant  dilatory  day 

Hath  brought  to  shame  the  debtor  and 
the  debt : 

With  amplest  usury  he  ’ll  discharge  it 
yet, 

And  melt  the  keen  reproach  away. 

Mark  how  the  strong  wave,  as  it  sweeps 
along, 

Rolls  the  washed  pebble  from  the 
shore ; 

Mark  how  the  arrear  shall  vanish  as 
we  pour 

Friendship’s  full  tribute,  our  historic 
song. 


79 


EPODE  I. 


For  Truth  with  the  Zephyrian  Loc- 
rians  dwells  : 

They  love  the  heroic  Muse  and  martial 
field. 

Cycnus  with  onset  fierce,  as  story  tells, 

The  o’erpowering  might  of  Hercules 
repelled. 

As  by  Achilles  roused  Patroclus  stood ; 

So  to  stout  Has  on  the  Olympian  sand 

The  boxer’s  palm  Agesidamus  owed. 

Oft  hath  the  cheering  friend,  when  Na¬ 
ture’s  hand 

Has  touched  the  warrior’s  heart  with 
Virtue’s  flame, 

Gigantic  deeds  inspired,  and  Heaven 
confirmed  his  fame. 

STROPHE  II. 

Conquests  by  toil  unearned  to  few  be¬ 
long  : 

Action  ’s  the  sovereign  good,  the  light 
of  life. 

But  me  Jove’s  Hallowed  Rites  the  ath¬ 
letic  strife 


80 


And  matchless  Games  in  solemn  song 
Bid  blazon ;  which  the  potent  Hercules 
Stablisht  by  Pelops’  ancient  tomb ; 
What  time  the  godlike  Cteatus  to  his 
doom 

He  sent,  though  sprung  from  him  that 
rules  the  seas, 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Him  with  bold  Eurytus,  the  largess  due 
Thus  from  reluctant  Augeas  to  compel. 
Them  on  their  journey  in  Cleonae’s  dell 
The  avenging  chief  from  ambush 
slew. 

Just  retribution  !  his  Tirynthian  host, 
Surprised  in  Elis’  close  defiles, 

Molione’s  o’erweening  sons  by  wiles 
Had  crushed  ;  and  all  his  choicest  chiefs 
were  lost. 


EPODE  II. 

That  guest-beguiling  king  the  wrath 
of  Heaven 

Soon  reached.  He  saw  the  sceptre  of 
his  sway, 


8 1 


To  sword  and  flame  his  wealth  and 
country  given, 

Saw  his  Epeian  kingdom  pass  away, 

Sunk  in  Destruction’s  gulf!  ’T  is  hard 
indeed 

The  conflict  with  a  mightier  foe  to 
close ; 

And  wit  forsakes  whom  Fate  hath 
doomed  to  bleed. 

Himself  a  captive  thus,  the  last  of 
those 

Whose  loyalty  his  fault  and  fortune 
shared, 

’Scaped  not  the  dire  revenge  Herculean 
rage  prepared. 

STROPHE  III. 

That  justice  satisfied,  the  son  of  Jove 

Mustered  his  conquering  bands  and 
massy  spoils 

On  Pisa’s  plain,  the  fruits  of  all  their 
toils. 

To  his  great  Sire  the  sacred  Grove 

He  compassed  out ;  and  in  clear  space 
within 

Paled  all  the  severed  Altis  round  ; 


For  the  free  banquet  smoothed  the 
circled  ground  ; 

And  crowned  Alpheius'  banks  with 
many  a  shrine 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

To  the  twelve  Sovereign  Gods.  Yon 
bordering  peak 

The  Cronian  Mount  he  called,  a  name¬ 
less  waste 

When  old  iEnomaus  reigned,  by  song 
ungraced, 

And  drenched  with  snows  its  turrets 
bleak. 

To  that  prime  consecration  and  high  rite 

The  Fates  in  stern  attendance  came ; 

And  Time,  whose  sole  probation  can 
proclaim 

Truth  to  be  true,  that  season  stayed  his 
flight. 


EPODE  III. 

He  in  his  course  advancing  to  this  hour 
Bears  record  where  the  Hero's  altars 
rose ; 


83 


The  gifts  of  war  how  portioned  he,  the 
flower 

Of  all  the  spoils  he  gained  from  all  his 
foes ; 

How  solemnized  his  great  Quinquen¬ 
nial  Feast. 

Say  now,  what  envied  youth  the  new- 
wrought  crown 

Earned  in  that  first  Olympiad,  from 
the  crest 

Of  his  foiled  foe  plucking  his  fresh 
renown  ? 

Who  quelled  his  rival  in  the  manual  war, 

Flew  on  the  bounding  foot,  or  whirled 
the  madding  car. 

STROPHE  IV. 

iEonus  first,  Licymnius’  youthful  son, 

Who  ruled  in  Midea’s  walls  his  native 
force, 

With  speed  unmatched  along  the  Stadian 
course 

The  light  pedestrian  chaplet  won. 

First  in  the  wrestler’s  ring  from  Tegea’s 
plain 

Shone  Echemus.  To  Tiryns  shore 

84 


The  Boxer’s  manly  prize  Doryclus  bore ; 

While  four  fleet  coursers  with  his  mas¬ 
tering  rein 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

To  the  bright  goal  Mantinean  Semus 
took. 

Home  to  the  mark  the  lance  of  Phras- 
tor  flew : 

Farthest  with  circling  hand  and  im¬ 
pulse  true 

Enrikeus  hurled  the  whirling  rock ; 

That  all  his  peers  the  triumph  of  his 
might 

With  shouts  applauded.  Rising  now 

The  soft-eyed  Moon  on  Evening’s  tran¬ 
quil  brow 

Hung  the  full  circle  of  her  lovely  light. 
EPODE  IV. 

There  in  full  choir  the  genial  Feast 
around 

Encomiastic  songs  and  joyful  strains 

Rung  through  the  sacred  Grove  :  such 
cheering  sound 

85 


Swells  for  the  crown  our  Locrian  hero 
gains. 

True  to  the  customed  and  constituent 
rite, 

Sing  we  the  thunder  and  the  dazzling 
bolt 

That  arms  Jove’s  fiery  grasp,  when  in 
his  might 

He  hurls  the  bellowing  vengeance  thro’ 
the  vault. 

To  the  loud  pipe  respond  the  melting 
lays 

Which  late  from  Dirce’s  fount  her  lin¬ 
gering  minstrel  pays; 

STROPHE  V. 

Dear,  as  the  smiling  infant,  which 
the  wife 

Almost  past  hope  to  its  fond  father 
bears 

Now  far  declined  into  the  vale  of 
years, 

And  warms  with  love  his  waning  life. 

For  who,  that  with  long  thrift  and  hon¬ 
est  toil 

His  patrimonial  store  hath  swelled, 

86 


Loathes  not  in  childless  age  his  gains  to 
yield, 

And  leave  strange  heirs  to  riot  on  the 
spoil  ? 

ANTISTROPHE  V. 

So  who  with  name  unsung  from 
Glory’s  fray, 

Agesidamus,  sinks  to  Death’s  domain, 

The  slave  of  thankless  care  hath 
breathed  in  vain, 

And  flung  life’s  rapturous  hour  away. 

For  thee  the  sweet  voice  of  the  war¬ 
bling  lyre, 

The  soft  mellifluous  flutes  diffuse 

Their  mixt  harmonious  graces,  Fame 
pursues 

Where  Jove’s  Pierian  Maids  the  strain 
inspire. 


EPODE  V. 

By  them  inflamed  have  I  with  earnest 
praise 

The  illustrious  Locrians  crowned ; 
poured  on  their  town, 

87 


Home  of  the  brave,  the  honey  of  my 
lays, 

And  swelled,  Archestratus,  thy  son’s 
renown. 

Him  by  the  Olympic  altar  I  beheld 

Quelling  the  mightiest  with  his  vigor¬ 
ous  arm  : 

In  beauty’s  flower  his  manly  form 
excelled, 

Where  Youth  o’er  Strength  diffused  her 
early  charm  ; 

Such  Youth  as  erst  by  winning  Cypria 
led 

Relentless  death  repelled  from  blooming 
Ganymede. 


88 


ODE  XI. 

TO  THE  SAME  AGESIDAMUS 
For  his  Victory  in  the  Game  of  Boxing 


STROPHE 

Sometimes  we  need  the  breathing  gale, 
Sometimes  the  soft  celestial  rain, 

Child  of  the  cloud,  to  bless  the  vale ; 

But  when  Success  Adventure  crowns, 
the  lyre’s  mellifluous  strain 

89 


To  spread  the  eternal  blazon,  and  assever 

On  Fame’s  unfailing  oath,  that  Virtue 
lives  for  ever. 

ANTISTROPHE 

To  those,  that  win  the  Olympian 
prize 

Such  lavish  eulogies  belong  ; 

And  such  my  willing  tongue  supplies  : 

For  aye  the  flowers  of  genius  bloom, 
when  Heaven  inspires  the  song. 

Son  of  Archestratus,  thy  proud  re¬ 
nown, 

(Agesidamus  hear!)  thy  olive’s  golden 
crown, 


EPODE 

Won  by  thy  matchless  hand  shall  share 
The  sweet  melodious  lay, 

The  Western  Locrians  all  my  care : 
There,  Muses,  join  the  festal  choir,  for 
they 

Chase  not,  I  ween,  the  stranger  from 
their  shore, 

Nor  live  unlearned  in  Glory’s  lore. 

90 


Science  and  warlike  enterprise  are  theirs  : 
The  Fox,  the  raging  Lion,  every 
creature 

Unchanged  its  inborn  instinct  bears, 
Leaves  not  the  cast  of  Nature. 


91 


ODE  XII. 

TO  ERGOTELES  OF  HIMERA 
Victor  in  the  Long  Foot-race 


STROPHE 

Daughter  of  Eleutherian  Jove, 
Protecting  Fortune,  to  thy  power  I  pray 
To  guard  imperial  Himera  : 

Guided  by  thee  the  winged  gallies  move 
Thro’  the  wide  sea :  thine  are  the 
impetuous  wars, 

The  pondering  councils  :  by  thy  change¬ 
ful  sway 


92 


Now  sunk  below,  now  lifted  to  the 
stars 

Thro"  life’s  illusions  vain  Hope  steers 
her  wandering  way. 

ANTISTROPHE 

But  by  sure  presage  to  descry 

The  approaching  day’s  event,  mysteri¬ 
ous  Heaven 

Hath  not  to  helpless  mortals  given  ; 

And  all  is  blind  towards  dim  futurity. 

Oft  on  the  best  in  fond  Opinion’s 
spite 

Joy’s  sad  reverse  has  fallen ;  others  no 
less 

With  Woe’s  distressful  storms  long 
doomed  to  fight 

Have  changed  in  one  short  hour  disaster 
to  success. 


EPODE 

Son  of  Philenor,  thy  renown 
Had  shed  its  faded  flower, 

Thy  speed  beyond  thy  native  bower, 

93 


Like  the  brave  cock’s  domestic  wars, 
unknown  : 

Had  not,  Ergoteles,  the  civil  fray, 

That  friend  with  friend  embroils, 

Forced  thee  from  Cnossian  fields 
away ; 

Now  in  the  Olympic  grove  for  nobler 
toils, 

By  Isthmians  once,  and  twice  in 
Pytho  crowned, 

A  worthier  hearth  thy  Fame  has  found 
By  the  warm  waves  of  Himera, 

Whose  Nymphs  by  thee  ennobled  hail 
thy  stay. 


94 


ODE  XIII. 

TO  XENOPHON  THE  CORINTHIAN 

Victor  in  the  Single  Foot-race  and  in  the 
Pentathlon 


STROPHE  I. 

While  to  the  House  thrice  in  Olympia 
crowned, 

The  citizen’s  indulgent  friend, 

95 


The  stranger’s  host,  my  praise  I  send  ; 

Thee,  prosperous  Corinth,  for  thy  race 
renowned, 

Portal  of  Isthmian  Neptune,  shall  my 
strain 

Forget  not.  There  the  Golden  Sisters 
reign 

From  Themis  sprung,  Eunomia  pure, 

Safe  Justice  and  congenial  Peace, 

Basis  of  states  ;  whose  counsels  sure 

With  wealth  and  wisdom  bless  the 
world’s  increase, 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

And  Insolence  the  child  of  bold- 
tongued  Pride 

Far  from  the  social  haunt  repel. 

Many  a  fair  tale  have  I  to  tell, 

Which  fearless  Truth  forbids  my 
song  to  hide, 

If  aught  could  hide  what  Nature’s  grace 
bestows. 

Sons  of  the  famed  Aletes,  round  your 
brows 

Oft  have  the  blooming  Hours  displayed 

At  sacred  game  in  Glory’s  field 

96 


Triumphant  Virtue’s  noblest  braid  j 
Oft  to  your  throbbing  hearts  by  hints 
revealed 


EPODE  I. 

Discoveries  old  of  Wisdom’s  ways, 

And  works  still  pregnant  with  the  in¬ 
ventor’s  praise. 

Whence  sprung  the  Dithyrambic  choir  ? 
The  bull  by  dancing  Bacchants  led  ? 
Who  taught  to  curb  the  courser’s  fire  ? 
Who  on  the  solemn  Temples  first  out¬ 
spread 

The  Sovereign  Eagle’s  sculptured  wings  ? 
Yours  is  the  Muse’s  warbled  lay, 

And  Mars,  to  panting  youth  that  brings 
The  wreath  that  crowns  the  fatal  fray. 

STROPHE  II. 

Thou,  whose  wide  rule  protects  the 
Olympian  land, 

Grudge  not  my  song,  Paternal  Jove, 
Thy  boundless  favour  from  above  ! 

Still  o’er  this  people  stretch  thy  shelter¬ 
ing  hand  : 


9  7 


Swell  the  fresh  gale  of  Xenophon’s 
renown, 

And  for  his  powers  in  Pisa  shown 

Accept  the  ritual  praise  we  pour. 

Pedestrian  speed,  Pentathlian  might, 

Alike  he  conquered  :  man  before 

Ne’er  joined  the  unequal  palms  of 
strength  and  flight. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

His  trophied  brows  the  parsley’s  crisped 
tiar 

Twice  at  the  Feasts  of  Isthmus 
bound : 

His  deeds  the  Nemean  rocks  resound : 

The  dazzling  speed  of  Thessalus  his 
sire 

Still  famed  on  Alpheus’  banks  obtained 
the  crown  : 

He,  ere  one  sun  on  Pytho’s  peaks  went 
down, 

The  single  gained  and  double  race : 

Three  wreaths  on  Athens’  rugged  strand 

In  one  short  month’s  triumphant  space 

Twined  round  his  radiant  locks  their 
blended  band  : 

98 


EPODE  II. 


Seven  times  the  Hellotian  prize  he  bore, 

And  with  his  sire,  the  illustrious  Ptaeo- 
dore, 

’Twixt  the  two  gulfs  in  Neptune’s 
Game 

Earned  for  his  meed  the  minstrel’s 
chant, 

The  rapturous  gift  of  deathless  Fame. 

How  graced  your  matchless  deeds  the 
Lion’s  haunt  ? 

How  shone  the  Delphian  steeps 
below  ?  — 

The  excess  confounds  me,  while  I  teach 

Your  multiplied  exploits  ;  for  who 

Shall  count  the  sands  that  heap  the 
beach  ? 


STROPHE  III. 

But  all  things  have  their  bounds,  by 
wisdom’s  sight, 

When  just  Occasion  warns,  descried  : 
And  I  thus  launched  on  Praise’s  tide 
To  hymn  departed  glory,  and  the  fight 
Where  Virtue  wins  the  heroic  victory, 

99 


Disdain  to  frame  the  laudatory  lie 
E’en  for  proud  Corinth  ;  tho’  she  boast 
The  gifted  god-like  Sisyphus, 

And  her  that  rescued  Argo’s  host 
Spite  of  her  sire  to  gain  her  Minyan 
spouse. 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

Add  what  her  sons  before  the  Dardan  wall 
Of  warlike  hardiment  displayed 
Each  side  the  combat ;  these  arrayed 
With  Atreus’  race  fair  Helen  to  recall, 
Those  to  retain  conflicting.  Glaucus 
there 

Lycia’s  bold  captain  taught  e’en  Greeks 
to  fear. 

His  boast  was,  that  his  sire  of  yore 
By  pure  Pirene’s  fount  his  reign 
O’er  all  her  towering  city  bore 
And  called  her  walls  his  palace  and  do¬ 
main  ; 


EPODE  III. 

That  sire,  who  toiled  so  long  to  lead 
The  grisly  Gorgon’s  refractory  seed 

IOO 


Wild  Pegasus ;  ere  Pallas  made 

For  his  rude  hand  the  golden  rein 

In  dazzling  dream  before  him  laid  — 

M  Sleep’st  thou,  ^Eolian  king  ?  ”  with 
wakening  strain 

She  cried,  “Yon  fiery  steed  to  rule 

Take  this  bright  spell,  and  bid  thy 
sire 

The  Equestrian  God,  with  pastured  bull 

Heaping  his  shrine,  thy  gift  admire.” 

STROPHE  IV. 

Thus  in  mid  night  with  gleaming  iEgis 
■) 

The  Virgin  hailed  him  as  he  slept : 

Roused  on  his  feet  at  once  he  leapt 

To  clutch  the  glittering  wonder,  which 
in  haste 

To  Polyide  the  neighbouring  Seer  he 
brought, 

And  told  the  event  his  foresight  sage 
had  taught ; 

“  How  while  he  dreamt  the  wondrous 
dream 

Couched  on  her  shrine,  the  daughter 
chaste 

IOI 


Of  Jove,  whose  spear  ’s  the  lightning’s 
beam, 

Herself  the  potent  gold  beside  him 
laid.” 


ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

Paused  not  the  Prophet,  but  with  prest 
advice 

Urged  him  the  vision  to  obey; 

u  First  offering  him,  whose  watery  sway 

Bounds  the  vast  Earth,  his  sturdy 
sacrifice, 

To  Hippian  Pallas  next  a  shrine  to  build: 

For  gods  ’gainst  oaths  and  hopes  with 
ease  can  yield 

To  trembling  mortals  good  or  harm.” 

Forth  sprung  the  stout  Bellerophon, 

Stretcht  on  his  mouth  the  thrilling 
charm, 

And  made  the  winged  fugitive  his  own, 
EPODE  IV. 

And  leapt  in  brazen  arms  arrayed 

On  his  proud  back  and  with  his  fury 
played. 


102 


With  him  the  Amazons  from  the  cold 
And  desert  bosom  of  the  sky, 

A  female  host  of  archers  bold, 

He  smote  ;  with  him  the  warlike  Solymi, 
And  fierce  Chimaera  breathing  fire  — 
Pass  we  his  downfall  from  above, 

But  mark  the  ascending  steed  retire 
Within  the  Olympian  stalls  of  Jove. 

STROPHE  V. 

But  while  direct  the  lance  of  song  we 
send, 

What  boots  it  from  the  tuneful  string 
Far  from  the  mark  our  shafts  to  fling  ? 
For  to  the  tribe  of  Oligaethe  a  friend 
With  all  the  bright-throned  Muses, 
Nemean  plain 

And  Isthmian  shore  I  ’ll  visit  with  my 
strain. 

A  word  the  copious  tale  shall  tell 
Pledged  on  mine  oath :  the  Herald’s 
tongue 

Hath  at  those  games  with  cheering 
swell 

Full  sixty  glorious  times  their  triumph 
rung. 


103 


ANTISTROPHE  V. 


Their  past  Olympic  feats  have  graced 
my  song ; 

The  future  in  their  joyous  day, 

Hope’s  promise,  shall  the  Muse  display  : 

But  fortunes  and  events  to  heaven  be- 
long. 

Smile  but  their  natal  genius  from  above, 

The  rest  to  Mars  we  ’ll  trust,  and 
ruling  Jove. 

Yet  must  I  name  their  Pythian  boughs, 

Their  wreaths  from  Thebes,  from  Argos 
brought : 

And  Jove’s  Lycaean  altar  knows 

Their  countless  wonders  in  Arcadia 
wrought : 


EPODE  V. 

Pellene,  too,  and  Sicyon, 

And  Megara,  and  illustrious  Marathon, 
Eleusis,  and  the  fenced  Grove 
Of  iEacus,  and  Euboea’s  Isle, 

And  all  the  prosperous  states,  above 
Whose  walls  huge  JE tna  lifts  her  tower- 
ing  pile, 


104 


All  Greece  their  boundless  praise  pro¬ 


claim. 

Teach  them,  Great  Jove,  with  meekness 
graced 

To  tread  the  dazzling  paths  of  Fame, 
And  Fortune’s  choicest  gifts  to  taste. 


105 


ODE  XIV. 


TO  ASOPICHUS  THE  ORCHOMENIAN 

Victor  in  the  Single  Foot-race  run 
hy  Boys 


STROPHE  I. 

O  ye,  that  by  Cephisis*  waves  profuse 
Dwell  on  the  banks  with  steeds  and 
pastures  fair, 

Illustrious  queens  of  proud  Orchomenus, 
Listen,  ye  Graces,  to  my  prayer  — 

Ye,  whose  protecting  eyes 

The  Minyans’  ancient  tribes  defend ; 

106 


From  you  life’s  sweets  and  purest 
ecstasies 

On  man’s  delighted  race  descend. 

Genius,  and  Beauty,  and  Immortal 
Fame, 

Are  yours :  without  the  soft  majestic 
Graces 

Not  e’en  the  gods  in  their  celestial  places 
Or  feast  or  dance  proclaim. 

Raised  are  their  thrones  on  high 
Beside  the  Pythian  lord  of  day, 

That  bends  the  golden  bow ;  where  they 
All  pastimes  and  solemnities  above 
Blissful  dispense,  and  sanctify 
The  eternal  honours  of  Olympian  Jove. 

STROPHE  II. 

August  Aglaia,  blithe  Euphrosyne, 
Daughters  of  Heaven’s  resistless  king, 
And  thou,  that  lovest  the  liquid  lay, 
Thalia,  hear  my  call,  and  see 
The  choiring  minstrels  on  their  way, 

By  favouring  fortune  wooed, 

With  festive  steps  advancing :  I  to  sing 
Asopichus  in  Lydian  mood 
And  laboured  measures  come ; 

107 


For  Minya  from  the  Olympian  shrine 
Bright  victory  bears  thy  gift  divine  — 
Go  now,  sweet  Echo  of  my  lyre, 

To  pale  Proserpine’s  melancholy  dome 
With  thy  proud  tidings  to  the  Sire ; 

Tell  Cleodamus,  that  his  youthful  son 
In  Pisa’s  glorious  vale  the  braid 
From  Jove’s  illustrious  games  hath  won 
And  twined  the  plumes  of  conquest 
round  his  head. 


PYTHIAN  ODES 


ODE  I. 

TO  HIERO  THE  JETNiEAN 
Victor  in  the  Chariot-race 


STROPHE  I. 

Golden  Lyre,  Apollo’s  care, 

Thy  aid  with  violet  tresses  crowned, 
Their  emblem  thee,  the  Muses  share : 
The  bounding  dance  obeys,  and  joy  pur¬ 
sues  the  sound. 


Ill 


Thy  signal  wakes  the  vocal  choir, 

When  with  the  sweet  preamble’s  linger¬ 
ing  lay 

Thy  frame  resumes  its  thrilling  sway. 
The  lanced  lightning’s  everlasting  fire 
Thou  hast  extinguisht,  while  by  thee 
On  Jove’s  own  sceptre  lulled  the 
Feathered  King 
Forgets  his  awful  ministry, 

And  hangs  from  either  flank  the  droop¬ 
ing  wing : 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Thou  his  beaked  crest  around 
Hast  poured  the  cloud  of  darkness  soft, 
And  o’er  his  beaming  eyeballs  bound 
The  lock  of  thy  sweet  spell :  slumbering 
he  sits  aloft 

With  ruffling  plumes  and  heaving  spine 
Quelled  by  thy  potent  strain.  The 
furious  Mars 

Aloof  hath  left  the  bristling  spears, 

And  with  thy  soft  mellifluous  anodyne 
Soothed  his  relentless  heart ;  for  even 
The  gods  themselves  thy  searching  shaft 
subdues 


1 1 2 


By  skilled  Latoides  aimed  in  heaven, 
Framed  in  the  bosom  of  the  swelling 
Muse. 


EPODE  I. 

But  those,  whom  all-discerning  Jove 
Abides  not,  shudder  at  the  sound 
The  chaste  Pierian  Damsels  move, 

On  earth  or  in  the  restless  wave, 

Or  where  in  durance  underground 
The  god’s  presumptuous  foe 
Lies,  hundred-headed  Typhon ;  whom 
the  cave 

Far-famed  by  Tarsus  bred,  now  stretcht 
below 

Where  Cuma’s  beetling  sea-cliffs  frown  ; 
While  on  his  broad  and  shaggy  breast 
Sicilia’s  regions  rest, 

And  hoary  A Etna,  pillar  of  the  sphere, 
With  her  bleak  snows  through  all  the 
year 

Nursed  in  her  angry  arms,  presses  the 
monster  down : 


STROPHE  II. 


Bursting  from  whose  caverned  side 
The  living  fountains  waste  their  way 
Of  unapproachable  fire  ;  whose  tide 
With  clouds  of  smouldering  fume  be¬ 
dims  the  sultry  day ; 

Reddening  at  night  the  inflamed  flood 
Rolls  off  the  lifted  rocks,  and  down  the 
steep 

Plunges  beneath  the  bellowing  deep. 
Meanwhile  that  Serpent  from  his  dungeon 
rude 

Sends  his  dread  fire-spouts  to  the  air, 
Vulcanian  streams  portentous  to  behold  ! 
Strange  e’en  the  traveller’s  tongue  to 
hear 

Of  sights  and  sounds  so  dire  the  tale 
unfold ; 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

How  on  ^Etna’s  burning  base 
Beneath  her  dark  umbrageous  head 
Chained  and  immured  the  rugged  place 
Gores  all  his  writhing  bulk,  that  rues 
that  restless  bed. 

1 14 


Grant  me.  Great  Jove,  thy  smiles  to 
know, 

Lord  of  this  mountain,  whose  high 
front  commands 

In  circuit  wide  the  abundant  lands ; 

Graced  with  whose  name  the  bordering 
state  below 

Shares  its  great  founder’s  large  renown, 

By  herald’s  voice  at  Pytho’s  listening 
games 

Declared  ;  while  Hiero’s  chariot-crown, 

A  monarch’s  meed,  the  inspiring  note 
proclaims. 

EPODE  II. 

From  heaven  a  fresh  propitious  gale 

With  ardent  prayer  the  seaman  craves, 

To  wing  with  speed  his  parting  sail; 

While  Hope  a  prosperous  course  fore¬ 
tells 

From  that  good  presage  o’er  the  waves  : 

Thus  blest  with  omen  fair 

Of  earliest  fame,  while  ^Etna’s  realm 
excels, 

The  Muse  her  future  glories  shall  de¬ 
clare  ; 


115 


Her  gorgeous  feasts,  her  coursers  proud, 
Her  choirs  to  chant  the  victor’s  lay  — 
O  thou,  whose  radiant  sway 
Delos  and  Lycia  rules ;  whose  haunt  is 
still 

The  mount  that  pours  Castalia’s  rill ; 
Accept  thy  suppliant’s  prayer  5  her  streets 
with  heroes  crowd. 

STROPHE  III. 

Good  the  gods  alone  dispense  ; 

All  arts,  all  worth  from  them  we  trace ; 
And  Wit,  and  Might,  and  Eloquence 
Are  but  the  gifts  divine  of  bounteous 
Nature’s  grace. 

But  thou  this  prince’s  praise  to  sing 
Intent,  as  some  the  brazen  javelin  wield, 
Urge  not  thy  song  beside  the  field, 

But  forward  far,  where  rivals  ne’er  can 
fling. 

Unchanging  Fortune’s  golden  shower, 
With  Virtue’s  goodlier  boon,  the  cloud¬ 
less  mind, 

Time  on  his  state  benignant  pour, 

And  calm  Oblivion  shade  the  toils 
behind. 

1 1 6 


ANTISTROPHE  III. 


Still  shall  Memory’s  rolls  attest 
The  wars  he  waged,  the  fields  he  won, 
While  patient  bravery  nerved  his 
breast ; 

What  honours  sent  from  heaven  around 
their  temples  shone, 

By  Grecian  hand  ne’er  pluckt  before, 

To  crown  their  wealth  a  glorious  dia¬ 
dem. 

His  dauntless  mind  with  pangs  extreme, 
Though  rackt,  war’s  toil,  like  Philoctetes, 
bore  : 

Princes  his  aid  with  flattery  sought, 

And  wooed,  by  Fortune  prest,  his 
saving  power. 

’T  was  thus  the  Hellenian  heroes  brought 
From  Lemnian  rocks,  in  Troy’s  dis¬ 
astrous  hour, 

EPODE  III. 

Paean’s  brave  son,  with  wasting  wound, 
Though  weak  and  worn,  whose  fatal 
bow 

Razed  Priam’s  Ilion  to  the  ground. 

ii  7 


He  closed  the  lingering  toils  of  Greece, 
With  powerless  frame  advancing  slow ; 
For  such  was  Fate’s  decree. 

Thus  may  some  healing  god  henceforth 
increase 

Great  Hiero’s  weal,  and  Opportunity 
Wait  on  his  wish!  —  For  young  Di- 
nomenes 

Wake  now,  my  Muse,  thy  cheering 
lyre, 

And  sing  the  conquering  sire ; 

By  sire  like  him  quadrigal  chaplets  won 
Grieve  not,  I  ween,  the  aspiring  son ; 
Wake,  then,  for  ^Etna’s  king  thy  grate¬ 
ful  minstrelsies. 

STROPHE  IV. 

Blest  with  freedom,  heaven  bestowed, 
For  him  sage  Hiero  planned  the  place, 
And  building  on  the  Hyllaean  code 
Founded  their  polity.  The  free  Pam- 
phylian  race, 

From  great  Alcides  sprung,  that  dwell 
On  the  green  skirts  of  high  Taygetus, 
Still  hold  the  iEgimian  law,  the  Dorian 
use. 


1 18 


They  from  the  cliffs  of  Pindus  issuing 
fell 

On  sackt  Amyclae’s  prosperous  plain, 

By  whose  famed  border  the  Tyndarean 
host 

Their  milk-white  steeds  illustrious  train  ; 
Such  martial  sires  the  tribes  of  ./Etna 
boast. 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

Mighty  Jove,  to  those,  that  live 
By  fruitful  Amena’s  murmuring  tide, 
Subjects  and  prince,  like  freedom  give, 
By  Truth’s  unerring  rule  their  faultless 
course  to  guide. 

Inspired  by  thee,  by  practice  sage, 

His  son’s,  his  people’s  steps  the  sire 
shall  lead 

The  tranquil  paths  of  Peace  to  tread. 
Bid,  son  of  Saturn,  the  Phoenicians’  rage 
In  calm  domestic  arts  subside, 

Yon  Tuscan  rout  remember  in  retreat 
Their  comrades*  groans  on  Cumae’s 
tide, 

With  tarnished  ensigns  strewed  and 
foundering  fleet. 

119 


EPODE  IV. 

Such  was  the  wild  promiscuous  wreck 
Wrought  by  the  Syracusian  stroke, 
Whose  captain  from  the  towering  deck 
Dasht  to  the  deep  their  vanquisht 
throng, 

And  knapt  in  twain  the  barbarous 
yoke. 

When  Athens  asks  my  praise, 

From  Salamis  I  ’ll  date  the  swelling 
song; 

Cithaeron’s  field  the  Spartan’s  fame  shall 
raise, 

Where  Persia’s  boasted  archery  fell : 

But  when,  Dinomenes,  the  lyre 
Thy  conquering  sons  inspire, 

Oh,  then,  from  Himera’s  banks  the 
glittering  bough 

I  ’ll  pluck  to  plant  on  Virtue’s  brow, 
And  bid  those  echoing  shores  their  foes’ 
disasters  tell. 

STROPHE  V. 

Wouldst  thou  foil  the  censurer’s  sneer, 
Thy  copious  theme  in  narrowest  pale 

120 


Confine ;  nor  pall  the  impatient  ear 

That  throbs  for  fresh  delights,  and 
loathes  the  lengthening  tale. 

With  forced  applause,  with  grief  pro¬ 
found, 

The  vulgar  audience  listens  to  the  lays 

That  swell  the  prosperous  stranger’s 
praise  : 

Yet  since  the  flatterer  Envy’s  deadliest 
wound 

Pains  not  the  brave  like  Pity’s  tear, 

Cling  thou  to  Good ;  thy  vessel’s  mar¬ 
tial  throng 

With  the  sure  helm  of  Justice  steer 

And  on  Truth’s  anvil  steel  thy  guarded 
tongue ; 

ANTISTROPHE  V. 

Sparks  of  mischief  struck  from  thee 

Spread  far  and  wide  the  authentic  flame : 

Thousands  observe  thy  sovereignty ; 

A  thousand  listening  ears  bear  witness 
to  thy  shame. 

If  yet  Fame’s  dulcet  voice  to  hear 

Thou  long’st,  still  crowned  to  stand  at 
Virtue’s  post, 


1 2 1 


Oh  !  shrink  not  from  the  worthless  cost ; 

But,  like  a  brave  and  liberal  captain, 
spare 

Thy  spreading  canvass  to  the  wind. 

Trust  not,  my  friend,  to  Flattery’s  ill- 
bought  breath  : 

Glory,  whose  living  lamp  behind 

Departed  mortals  gilds  the  shrine  of 
death, 


EPODE  V. 

Bids  History’s  pomp  on  Goodness 
wait ; 

And  rouses  the  rewarding  strain 
To  sound  the  triumphs  of  the  great. 

Still  Croesus  lives  for  kindness  blest : 

On  Phalaris,  whose  remorseless  reign 
The  bull  and  torturing  fire 
Upheld,  the  curses  of  all  ages  rest : 

Him  nor  the  festive  band,  nor  cheering 

iyre> 

Nor  youths  in  sweet  communion  joined 
With  fond  remembrance  hail !  —  Above 
The  goodliest  gifts  of  Jove 
Fortune  the  first,  Fame  claims  the  sec¬ 
ond,  place  ; 

122 


The  man  whose  grasp,  whose  filled  em¬ 
brace 

Both  Fame  and  Fortune  holds,  life’s 
noblest  crown  has  twined. 


123 


ODE  II. 

TO  THE  SAME  HIERO 
Victor  in  the  Chariot-race 


STROPHE  I. 

Great  Syracuse,  the  splendid  shrine 
Of  battle-breathing  Mars, 

Nurse  of  illustrious  chiefs  divine, 

And  steeds  that  pant  for  iron  wars ! 

To  thee,  from  glorious  Thebes,  my 
strain  I  bear. 

The  conquering  chariot’s  harbinger; 

124 


* 


Wherein  with  fourfold  team,  that  shook 
the  thundering  plain, 

Thy  Hiero  won  the  dazzling  braid, 

And  crowned  Ortygia  in  her  humid  fane, 
Seat  of  the  watery  Dian  j  by  whose 
aid 

With  glittering  rein  and  lenient  hand  he 
broke 

His  youthful  coursers  to  the  yoke. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

For  oft  the  virgin  Queen,  that  aims 
The  silver  shafts  of  light, 

Oft  Mercury  guardian  of  the  games 
Plies  with  prompt  hands  the  trappings 
bright  j 

When  to  the  burnisht  car  he  joins  the 
speed, 

The  vigour  of  the  rein-led  steed, 

And  calls  the  wide-domained  and  trident- 
sceptred  god. 

The  tuneful  strain,  fair  Virtue’s  meed 
Others  on  other  monarchs  have  be¬ 
stowed  ; 

As  oft  the  Cyprian  minstrels  wake  the 
reed 


125 


For  Cinyras  (whom  Phoebus  golden- 
tressed 

With  pure  celestial  love  caressed, 
EPODE  I. 

And  Venus  made  her  priest  and  para¬ 
mour)  ; 

Such  strain  to  thee  for  favour  found 
Each  grateful  heart  shall  pour, 

Son  of  Dinomenes !  mark  how,  thy 
praise  to  sound, 

Seated  before  her  peaceful  cot, 

The  Locrian  damsel  trolls  her  lay, 

With  looks  secure,  her  fears  forgot, 

And  foes,  thy  power  hath  frowned  away. 
That  moral  to  mankind, 

As  story  tells,  by  heaven  enjoined, 
Round  on  his  restless  wheel  for  ever  rolled 
With  warning  voice  Ixion  told, 

“With  warm  returns  of  gratitude 
Requite  the  bounties  of  the  good.” 

STROPHE  II. 

Fatally  learnt  !  A  life  of  bliss 
With  Saturn’s  sons  he  led ; 

126 


Whose  heavenly  friendship  used  amiss 
To  madness  fired  his  impious  head  : 
What  time  the  matchless  consort  of  high 
Jove 

He  tried,  by  blind  presumptuous  love 
To  that  wild  outrage  moved.  Full  soon 
the  just  return 

A  strange  unpractised  pain  he  bore, 

Two  bold  misdeeds  condemned  at  once 
to  mourn : 

For  he,  a  hero  deemed,  with  kindred 
gore 

His  hands  had  stained,  and  first  by  fraud 
designed 

The  foulest  murder  of  his  kind ; 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

He  to  the  secret  bower  unseen, 

Jove’s  genial  chamber,  stole, 

And  tempted  there  the  eternal  Queen  — 
O,  could  man’s  wit  his  wish  control, 

His  true  dimensions  learn  !  A  host  of 
woes 

Unlicensed  Lust’s  indulgence  knows  ! 
Witness  this  thoughtless  dupe,  that 
wooed  a  shadowy  cloud, 

127 


And  made  the  enchanting  cheat  his 
bride  : 

Fair,  heavenly  fair,  like  Saturn’s  daughter 
proud, 

Lookt  the  bright  form  his  baseness  to 
deride  ; 

So  well  Jove’s  art  had  wrought  the  flat¬ 
tering  bane.  — 

Now  in  his  quadri-radiate  chain, 

EPODE  II. 

(Rack  self-devised)  inextricably  bound 

He  with  stretcht  limbs  and  doleful  cry, 

Deals  his  sad  precept  round. 

Meanwhile  with  love  unblest  that  air- 
drawn  effigy 

In  solitude  her  single  birth 

Monstrous  produced :  the  graceless 
child 

No  reverence  found  in  heaven  or  earth. 

Now  “  Centaur  ”  named,  with  passion 
wild 

The  mateless  male  assails 

Magnesian  mares  in  Pelion’s  vales  : 

Whence  sprung  the  unnatural  breed, 
whose  wondrous  kin 
128 


Their  parents’  twofold  form  combined ; 
The  dam  their  baser  parts  confest, 

The  statelier  father  crowned  the  crest. 

STROPHE  III. 

Thus  to  perfection  God  could  bring 
Whate’er  his  will  designed  — 

God,  that  o’ertakes  the  eagle’s  wing 
And  leaves  the  dolphin’s  haste  behind 
In  the  mid  sea ;  whose  chastening  hand 
hath  bowed 

The  lofty  spirit  of  the  proud, 

And  given  to  modest  worth  the  imper¬ 
ishable  crown  — 

But  here  the  unseemly  tale  we  close, 
Warned  by  the  example  past  and  ill  re¬ 
nown 

Of  starved  Archilochus,  whose  verse 
morose, 

Whose  malice  was  his  feast.  The 
stores  be  mine 

Of  wealth  and  genius  to  combine. 


129 


ANTISTROPHE  III. 


The  first  kind  Fortune’s  gifts  afford 
Thy  liberal  hand  around 
Largely  to  lavish,  sovereign  Lord 
Of  states  and  hosts  with  glory  crowned  : 
He  that  from  ages  past  assumes  to  name, 
From  all  the  flower  of  Greece,  in  fame, 
Honours,  possessions,  power,  a  prince 
surpassing  thee, 

Vaunts  with  false  heart  and  idle 
tongue.  — 

O  !  for  a  bark  upon  the  boundless  sea 
To  range  at  large,  when  Virtue  swells 
my  song, 

And  spread,  if  bravery  be  the  boast  of 
youth, 

Thy  glory  from  the  strain  of  Truth  : 
EPODE  III. 

She  saw  the  band  to  thee,  the  squadron 
yield, 

And  thy  green  arm  from  manhood  tear 
The  trophies  of  the  field. 

Unrisked,  unbounded  praise  thy  sager 
counsels  share  : 

130 


All  forms  of  fame  thy  deeds  attend  ; 

Hail  to  thy  greatness !  o’er  the  sea 
Like  rich  Phoenician  stores  I  send 
My  freight  of  eulogies  for  thee. 

Accept  with  favouring  eye 
Our  rich  Castorean  minstrelsy : 

Touched  on  the  iEolian  chord  its  notes 
will  fire 

With  raptures  high  the  seven-toned 
lyre. 

But  praise  on  Apes  let  boys  bestow, 
Keep  thou  the  course  thy  virtues  know : 

STROPHE  IV. 

Thus  wisest  Rhadamanthus  won 
The  reverence  of  mankind  ; 

The  fruits  of  conscience  all  his  own  ; 
No  flattering  falsehood  lured  his  mind  ; 
Wherewith,  the  sufferer’s  and  the  listen¬ 
er’s  bane, 

Weak  ears  intriguing  whisperers  gain, 
Detraction’s  pilfering  priests,  that  live  on 
calumnies, 

Filching  like  foxes  in  the  dark  — 

Yet  what  the  gain  their  treacherous  trade 
supplies  ? 


Like  the  dull  net  flung  from  the  seaman’s 
bark, 

They  drudge  beneath  the  deep,  while 
o’er  the  tide 

My  buoyant  corks  untarnisht  ride. 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

No  hold  the  slanderer’s  word  can  take 

On  Virtue’s  generous  heart : 

Yet  fawning,  flattering  all,  they  make 

The  mischief,  that  sustains  their  art. 

Boldness  like  theirs  I  boast  not,  to  my 
friend 

Most  friendly  ;  to  my  foes  constrained 

I  am  a  foe,  a  wolf,  that  hunt  them  ev¬ 
erywhere, 

And  by  blind  paths  my  prey  surprise. 

Truth  in  all  states  her  fearless  front  may 
rear ; 

Whether  proud  kings,  or  fierce  democ¬ 
racies, 

Or  sapient  peers  the  public  weal  main¬ 
tain. 

Strive  not  with  God ;  thy  rage  is  vain ; 


132 


EPODE  IV. 


He  for  wise  ends  the  virtuous  magnifies, 
Or  deigns  the  worthless  head  to  raise 
With  glory  to  the  skies. 

Still  Envy  rests  not  here :  in  faithless 
scale  she  weighs 

Her  weak  pretence  ’gainst  Merit’s  claim, 
And  in  the  struggle  to  be  blest 
Oft  guides  the  wandering  poniard’s  aim, 
E’en  to  her  own  unguarded  breast. 

’Tis  temperate  Wisdom’s  care 
With  light  contented  heart  to  bear 
Life’s  galling  yoke.  To  kick  the 
pointed  goad, 

And  wound  the  heel,  yet  keep  the  load, 
Is  the  fool’s  cure.  Be  mine  to  use 
Virtue’s  sweet  converse  and  the  Muse. 


133 


ODE  III. 

TO  THE  SAME  HIERO 
Victor  in  the  Horse-race 


STROPHE  I. 

O  !  that  good  Phillyra’s  benignant  son, 
Old  Chiron,  from  Uranian  Saturn  sprung 
(If  without  blame  a  minstrel’s  tongue 
With  the  world’s  prayer  may  blend  his 
own). 

Could  from  the  dead  return,  to  reign 
O’er  Pelion’s  peaceful  vales  again, 

And  bear  once  more  the  generous  mind, 

134 


Brute  though  in  form,  to  bless  man¬ 
kind  ! 

Such,  as  when  erst  his  fostering  care 
The  hero  Aesculapius  bred  ; 

Who  first  taught  pain  the  writhing 
wretch  to  spare, 

Touched  by  whose  healing  hand  the  pale 
diseases  fled. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Him  Phlegyas’  daughter  bore ;  who 
midst  the  throe, 

While  Ilithyia  watcht  her  matron  cries, 
Pierced  with  the  thrilling  dart  that  flies 
From  stern  Lucina’s  golden  bow, 
Changed  by  Apollo’s  power  o’ercome 
Her  painful  chamber  for  the  tomb. 

So  fearful ’t  is  for  man  to  move 
The  vengeance  of  the  sons  of  Jove 
She  in  her  frailty’s  wanton  mood 
The  bright-haired  God’s  approach  re¬ 
pelled 

(Whose  love  so  late  her  wavering  heart 
subdued) 

E’en  while  his  heavenly  seed  her  genial 
bosom  swelled  : 

135 


EPODE  I. 


She  to  her  sire  unknown  a  prince  adored. 
No  more  the  bridal  feast  or  damsel  train 
She  recked ;  she  stayed  not  till  they 
poured 

In  melting  choir  their  hymeneal  strain, 
Or  to  soft  airs  for  maiden  meet 
Warbled  their  wonted  vesper  sweet. 

Her  thoughts  on  absent  raptures  rove, 
The  torturing  dream  of  all  that  love. 
Fond  mortals  thus  the  gifts  refuse 
Of  tendering  Fortune  with  disdain  ; 
While  Hope  some  distant  trifle  views 
And  hunts  the  flying  prize  in  vain. 

STROPHE  II. 

That  fatal  fault  within  her  altered  breast 
The  fair  Coronis  nursed :  away  she 
threw 

Her  virgin  robes,  and  madly  flew 
To  clasp  her  loved  Arcadian  guest: 
Unmark’d  not  of  the  Seer  divine, 

Whose  victims  heap  the  Pythian  shrine : 
There  throned  within  his  temple  pale 
Sage  Loxias  knew  the  unseemly  tale, 

136 


By  sure  direct  communion  taught 
The  glance  of  his  omniscient  mind  : 
Falsehood  beguiles  not  him ;  nor  act, 
nor  thought, 

Nor  man,  nor  potent  God  his  searching 
sight  can  blind. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Thus,  while  on  love  Eilatian  Ischys 
bent 

He  viewed,  his  feigned  pretence  and 
deed  unchaste, 

To  Lacereia’s  towers  in  haste 
The  god  his  vengeful  sister  sent, 

Where  rose  by  Boebias*  distant  flood 
The  afflicted  maid’s  forlorn  abode, 

Now  by  the  Power,  whose  baleful  sway 
Lured  her  from  Virtue’s  paths  to  stray, 
Shamed  and  destroyed.  The  demon’s 
ire 

E’en  ’mongst  her  friends  the  o’erwhelm- 
ing  ill 

Diffused  ;  as  from  one  spark  the  gather¬ 
ing  fire 

Spreads  through  the  distant  woods,  and 
strips  the  umbrageous  hill. 

137 


EPODE  II. 

Now  when  by  kindred  hands  the  damsel 

Stretcht  on  the  pile  sepulchral,  and  the 
flames 

Ran  round  ;  u  Mine  offspring  thus  to 
slay 

My  soul  shall  ne'er  endure,"  the  god 
exclaims, 

u  Nor  leave  its  parent's  pangs  to  share.” 
Thus  briefly,  from  the  lifeless  fair, 
Whom  with  one  pace  he  reacht  (the  pyre 
Self-opening  to  the  saving  sire), 

Away  the  struggling  child  he  bare, 

And  bade  the  Pelian  Centaur  sage 
Store  its  young  mind  with  precepts  rare 
Disease  and  mortal  pain  to  'suage. 

STROPHE  III. 

All  those,  whose  sickly  temperaments 
betrayed 

The  natural  sore ;  all  whom  the  grid¬ 
ing  sword, 

The  whirling  rock,  had  crusht  or  gored  ; 
All  whom  the  blistering  flames  had  flayed; 

138 


All  through  whose  limbs  keen  winter’s 
breath 

Had  blown  the  drowsy  chill  of  death  ; 

(Whate’er  the  pang  their  frames  en¬ 
dured) 

Each  of  his  several  bane  he  cured. 

This  felt  the  charm’s  enchanting  sound ; 

That  drank  the  elixir’s  soothing  cup ; 

Some  with  soft  hand  in  sheltering  bands 
he  bound, 

Or  plied  the  searching  steel  and  bade 
the  lame  leap  up. 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

Yet  Wisdom’s  self  the  lust  of  gain  be¬ 
trays  : 

Him  too  Corruption  with  her  rich 
reward, 

Her  glittering  gilded  hand,  ensnared 

With  impious  art  the  dead  to  raise. 

Roused  at  the  deed  indignant  Jove 

Thro’  both  at  once  his  lightning  drove  ; 

At  whose  dread  shock  and  instant 
blast 

From  both  their  breasts  the  spirit 
past  i 


139 


So  quick  the  flaming  courier  speeds. 

Pour  we  to  Heaven  our  humble  prayer, 

And  beg  the  boon  our  mortal  misery 
needs, 

By  sad  experience  taught  of  what  frail 
race  we  are. 

EPODE  III. 

Dare  not,  my  soul,  immortal  life  to 
crave ; 

The  practicable  good  strive  thou  to 
gain  — 

But  O  !  that  still  yon  mountain  cave 

Sage  Chiron  held,  where  this  mellifluous 
strain 

With  tuneful  charm  his  heart  might 
move 

Some  healing  power  to  send,  from 
Jove 

Or  Phoebus  sprung,  with  spells  endued. 

To  still  the  pangs  that  rack  the  good, 

With  him  the  bounding  bark  I  ’d 
mount, 

And  ride  the  rough  Ionian  wave, 

By  Arethusa’s  bubbling  fount 

My  kind  ^Etnean  host  to  save : 

140 


STROPHE  IV. 


Him  Syracuse  reveres,  her  lenient  king 
Whose  pride  ne’er  pined  at  Virtue’s 
just  success  ; 

Whose  love  the  unfriended  strangers 
bless - 

O  !  could  I  reach  thy  realm,  and  bring 
Health,  golden  Health,  with  Song  to 
grace 

The  wreath  that  crowned  thy  Pythian 
race, 

(Which  late  from  Cirrha  to  thy  shore 
The  matchless  Pherenicus  bore), 

Then  should  thy  glorious  minstrel  shine 
From  far  with  beams  of  goodlier  light, 
With  two  such  gifts  advancing  o’er  the 
brine, 

Than  yon  celestial  star  to  thy  rejoicing 
sight. 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

But  to  the  Matron  Goddess,  in  whose 
praise 

Oft  near  my  portal  at  the  midnight  hour 
With  Pan  their  hymns  the  damsels  pour, 

141 


For  thee  my  distant  voice  I  ’ll  raise. 

If,  Hiero,  thy  discernment  knows 

The  flower  on  wisdom’s  word  that 
grows ; 

Oft  hast  thou  learnt  from  sapient  age, 

Guide  of  thy  youth,  this  precept  sage, 

That  w  with  each  boon  kind  Fate  be¬ 
stows 

Two  banes  the  chastening  gods  com¬ 
bine,” 

Banes  to  the  fool,  but  blessings  to  the 
wise, 

Who  clear  the  incrusting  coil,  and  bid 
the  diamond  shine. 

EPODE  IV, 

Thee  Heaven  hath  prospered ;  for  if 
Fortune’s  eye 

E’er  beams  on  mortal,  ’t  is  the  con¬ 
queror  King : 

Yet  with  unchanged,  uncloudy  sky 

Not  e’en  for  Peleus  shone  the  eternal 
spring, 

Nor  godlike  Cadmus ;  tho’  they  heard, 

To  that  surpassing  bliss  preferred, 

The  golden-vested  Muses  fill 

142 


With  songs  of  joy  their  echoing  hill, 
Seven-portalled  Thebes  repeat  the  strain ; 
When  this  Harmonia’s  hand  endowed, 
On  that  sage  Nereus  from  the  main 
Thetis,  his  glorious  child,  bestowed. 

STROPHE  V. 

Gods  from  the  spheres  came  down  their 
feast  to  grace, 

Where  they  their  nuptial  gifts  from  Sat¬ 
urn’s  sons, 

Ethereal  kings  on  golden  thrones, 

Took,  and  beheld  them  face  to  face. 
Thus,  for  past  cares  and  toils  forgot, 
Their  hearts  corrected  with  their  lot, 
The  smiles  of  favouring  Heaven  they 
found  j 

Sorrow  unseen  yet  hovered  round : 
Cadmus,  at  life’s  distressful  close, 

His  frenzied  children’s  furies  prest ; 

Tho’  genial  Jove  one  for  his  consort 
chose, 

And  soothed  his  power  divine  on  fair 
Thyone’s  breast. 


143 


ANTISTROPHE  V. 


Peleus,  to  whom  immortal  Thetis  gave 
One  matchless  son,  on  Phrygia’s  fatal 
plain 

By  shaft  obscure  untimely  slain, 
Mourned  with  all  Greece  his  early  grave. 
If  there  be  one,  whose  wisdom  crowned 
The  unerring  paths  of  Truth  has  found, 
’T  is  his  with  heart  uplift  to  Heaven 
To  improve  the  gift  its  grace  has  given. 
The  winds  that  sweep  the  vaulted  sky 
Shift  every  hour  their  changeful  way ; 
And  when  on  man  swelling  Prosperity 
In  all  its  fulness  comes,  it  will  not, 
must  not  stay. 

EPODE  V. 

Humble  in  want,  in  greatness  I  ’ll  be 
great, 

Still  to  my  fortune’s  form  I’  11  shape  my 
will, 

My  wit  the  follower  of  my  fate. 

Should  some  kind  god  my  lap  with 
affluence  fill, 

To  Fame’s  high  peak  my  hopes  aspire: 

144 


Sarpedon  and  the  Pylian  sire 
All  ages  know,  to  all  proclaimed 
In  sounding  song  by  Genius  framed. 

Her  title  to  the  breathing  lyre 
Virtue  in  charge  securely  gives ; 

But  rare  the  hand,  whose  touch  can  fire 
The  immortal  strain,  by  which  she  lives. 


145 


TO  ARCESILAUS  THE  CYRENiEAN 

Victor  in  the  Chariot-race 


STROPHE  I. 

To-day  beside  thy  friend  Arcesilas, 

The  steed-renowned  Cyrene’s  bounteous 
king. 

Stand,  heavenly  Muse,  his  minstrel  choir 
to  grace ; 

146 


And  swell  the  gale  of  triumph,  as  they 
sing 

Latona’s  twins  and  Pytho’s  plain ; 
Where,  while  Apollo  filled  the  fane, 

His  priestess,  from  her  shrine  above 
Between  the  golden  birds  of  Jove, 
Decreed,  that  on  yon  fruitful  coast 
Battus  should  plant  his  alien  host 
Embarking  from  the  sacred  Isle,  and 
found 

The  town  for  chariots  famed  on  Libya’s 
glittering  mound ; 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Battus  the  tenth  and  seventh  of  his 
line 

Thus  destined  to  fulfil  the  eventful 
word, 

Which  erst  at  Thera  from  her  lips  di¬ 
vine 

The  raging  daughter  of  iEetes  poured. 
’T  was  thus  to  Jason’s  godlike  train 
The  Colchian  queen  addrest  her  strain  : 
w  Hear,  what  my  labouring  soul  fore¬ 
bodes, 

Ye  sons  of  heroes  and  of  gods; 

147 


How  Epaphus’  child  in  after-days 
From  this  wave- wandered  isle  shall  raise 
Within  the  precincts  of  the  Ammonian 
king 

A  root,  whence  cities  proud,  and  peopled 
realms  shall  spring. 

EPODE  I. 

u  They  from  the  Dolphin’s  puny  chase 
Shall  turn  the  generous  steed  to  train, 
And  urge  for  oars  the  chariot’s  race 
With  tempest  speed  and  flowing  rein. 
Great  parent  thus  shall  Thera  shine 
Of  mighty  states ;  so  doomed  by  pledge 
divine, 

When  in  man’s  form  the  social  god, 
Where  cool  Tritonis  pours  her  issuing 
lake, 

His  country’s  symbolled  soil  bestowed ; 
From  the  high  prow,  that  sacred  gift  to 
take, 

Down  stept  Euphemus ;  and  consenting 
Jove 

Clanged  the  loud  thunder  from  above. 


148 


STROPHE  II. 


M  ’T  was  when  the  parting  crew  on 
Argo’s  side 

Their  anchor  brazen-fanged,  her  steady 
rein, 

Were  fastening  —  (we  thro’ deserts  waste 
and  wide 

Twelve  tedious  days  proceeding  from 
the  main 

Our  lifted  bark  laborious  bore, 

Hauled  by  my  counsels  to  the  shore  — ) 

At  that  portentous  hour  alone 

The  God  came  forth :  his  aspect 
shone 

Gracious,  as  of  a  reverend  man  ; 

And  frank  and  kind  his  accents  ran ; 

As  when  some  generous  lord  his  enter¬ 
ing  guest 

With  cheerful  welcome  greets,  and  bids 
him  to  the  feast : 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

wYet  briefly  (for  the  excuse  of  sweet 
return 

Prest  us),  4  his  name  EurypylusJ  he  said, 

149 


4  Sprung  from  the  immortal  Sire  whose 
billowy  bourne 

Shakes  the  loud  shore ; 9  nor  more  our 
haste  delayed, 

But  without  parley  from  the  ground 
Snatcht  the  first  pledge  his  friendship 
found  : 

Forth  leapt  our  hero  to  the  strand, 

With  hand  extended  graspt  his  hand, 
And  gladly  from  the  tendering  god 
Accepted  the  propitious  clod ; 

Which  late  at  eve  washt  from  the  ves¬ 
sel’s  side 

Sunk  in  the  brine,  they  say,  beneath  the 
weltering  tide. 

EPODE  II. 

“Full  oft  I  charged  the  attendant  band, 
Now  freed  from  heavier  toil  or  thought, 
To  guard  it  well;  my  vain  command 
Full  soon  their  heedless  hearts  forgot. 
Thus  on  this  isle  the  immortal  seed 
Of  Libya’s  fortune  ere  its  hour  is  shed ; 
For  if  to  Taenarus’  sacred  shade 
Euphemus  hence  returned,  that  mystic 
boon 

150 


By  Hell’s  terrestrial  gates  had  laid 

(Yon  godlike  prince,  steed-mastering 
Neptune’s  son, 

Whom  Tityus’  daughter  by  Cephisus’ 
shore 

Erewhile  the  famed  Europa  bore), 
STROPHE  III. 

“Then,  when  the  Greeks  went  forth,  as 
go  they  shall, 

From  Lacedaemon,  in  the  fourth  descent, 

And  Argos  and  Mycenae’s  swarming 
wall, 

His  blood  had  ruled  that  boundless  con¬ 
tinent. 

Now  must  he  raise  in  strange  embrace 

With  barbarous  dames  his  chosen  race  ; 

That  led  by  Heaven  with  fortune’s 
smile 

Shall  reach  this  rude  sequestered  isle, 

And  rear  a  mortal  doomed  to  reign 

The  lord  of  Libya’s  cloud-black  plain. 

Him  with  abstruse  response  and  hint 
divine 

Heard  from  the  Pythian  domes  and  gold- 
encumbered  shrine, 

151 


ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

M  Phoebus  with  fleets  and  hosts  in  happier 
days 

Shall  warn  the  clime  to  seek,  where  o’er 
the  land 

Saturnian  Nile  his  fattening  moisture 
lays.” 

Such  was  Medea’s  lore  :  the  heroic  band 
Speechless  in  fixt  amazement  stood 
Thrilled  at  the  marvellous  truths  she 
showed. 

Blest  son  of  Polymnestus,  thee 
Portrayed  in  that  proud  prophecy, 

Thee  with  her  sweet  spontaneous  strain 
The  Delphian  maid  proclaimed  again  : 
Three  times  thy  state  she  hailed,  and 
gave  the  word 

That  sent  thee  crowned  away,  Cyrene’s 
destined  lord, 

EPODE  III. 

Thee  to  that  shrine  a  suppliant  sent 
With  prayers  thy  faltering  speech  to 
cure  — 

Now  prospering  in  the  eighth  descent 
Still  on  the  throne  thy  sons  endure  ; 

152 


Where  in  youth’s  prime  Arcesilas 

Fresh  as  the  spring  his  purple  flower  dis¬ 
plays. 

On  him  with  crowns  the  Amphictyons 
wait 

Given  by  Apollo  for  his  Pythian  race : 

Him  to  the  Muse  I  ’ll  consecrate; 

Him  and  the  all-golden  fleece,  whose 
distant  place 

When  erst  thro’  many  a  wave  the  Min- 
yans  found 

Glories  from  heaven  their  temples 
crowned. 

STROPHE  IV. 

But  whence  that  voyage  ?  what  neces¬ 
sity 

Bound  on  their  hearts  its  adamantine 
chain  ? 

’T  was  Pelias’  doom  by  fraud  or  force 
to  die 

By  iEolus’  renowned  descendants  slain. 

For  e’en  his  soul  with  wisdom  filled 

The  threatening  Oracle  had  chilled ; 

That,  breathed  from  Delphi’s  central 
cave, 


153 


The  wood-crowned  Earth’s  mysterious 
nave, 

Bade  him  with  all  his  kingly  care 
The  single-sandalled  wight  beware, 
Come  when  he  should,  stranger  or  citizen, 
Down  from  his  mountain  hold  to  famed 
Iolcus’  glen. 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

All  at  the  appointed  time,  with  ported 
spears 

In  either  hand  appeared  the  dreadful 
man : 

Shaped  in  Magnesian  guise  a  garb  he 
wears, 

That  round  his  glorious  limbs  compacted 
ran  ; 

O’er  which  a  pard-skin  from  the  storm 
Sheltered  his  stout  unshuddering  form. 
His  mantling  locks  unshorn,  unbound, 
In  nature’s  wildness  waving  round, 
Down  his  broad  back  illustrious  shook  : 
Forward  all  bent  on  speed  he  broke, 

Till  in  the  forum  halting,  calm  unmoved 
Amidst  the  inquiring  crowd  his  dauntless 
heart  he  proved. 

r54 


EPODE  IV. 


Unknown  he  stood  —  “Apollo’s  mien 
Is  this  ?  ”  some  gazing  wonderer  cried, 
w  Or  his,  that  wooed  the  Cyprian  queen, 
Whose  reins  the  brazen  chariot  guide  ? 
In  flowery  Naxos  ages  since 
Otus  and  Ephialtes,  daring  prince, 
Iphimedia’s  offspring  died  : 

Tityus,  gigantic  form,  Diana  slew, 
When  from  her  chaste  and  quivered  side 
Her  huntress-bolt  the  unconquered  virgin 
drew ; 

That  warned  from  joys  forbidden  men 
might  haste 

The  practicable  bliss  to  taste.” 

STROPHE  V. 

Thus  they  with  vague  surmise  in  crowds 
discoursed 

Listening  and  whispering  j  when  in  bur- 
nisht  car 

Pelias  with  mules  all  panting  thither 
forced 

His  urgent  speed.  Astounded  from  afar 
The  stripling’s  dexter  ankle  round 

155 


He  spied  a  single  sandal  bound ; 

Yet  with  disguised  alarm,  w  Proclaim, 
Stranger,”  said  he,  u  thy  country’s 
name ; 

Tell  me  what  matron  born  on  earth 
From  her  fair  bosom  gave  thee  birth  ? 
Let  not  the  loathed  lie  thy  lips  disgrace, 
But  meet  my  just  demand,  and  frankly 
tell  thy  race.” 

ANTISTROPHE  V. 

Him  with  undaunted  Virtue’s  accents 
mild 

Answered  the  youth,  M  From  Chiron’s 
school  I  come ; 

The  Centaur’s  daughters  nursed  me 
from  a  child, 

And  good  Chariclo  made  her  cave  my 
home. 

Now,  when  by  their  kind  care  sustained 
My  strength  its  twentieth  year  has 
gained, 

For  no  foul  deed,  no  phrase  unchaste 
From  that  sage  intercourse  displaced, 
My  home  I  visit,  to  require 
The  ancient  honours  of  my  sire ; 

156 


Which  erst  to  ruling  iEolus  and  his  heirs 
Jove  in  his  bounty  gave,  and  now  the 
Usurper  wears. 

EPODE  V. 

44  He  by  perverse  ambition  stung 
The  traitor  Pelias,  as  ’t  is  said, 

Their  sceptre  from  my  parents  wrung, 
Which  they  by  right  with  justice  swayed. 
They  on  my  birth’s  eventful  day 
Dreading  that  lawless  ruler,  in  dismay 
My  death  pretended,  and  prepared 
Domestic  semblance  of  sepulchral  rite  ; 
And  female  moans  and  sighs  were  heard  : 
Me  swathed  in  purple,  to  the  secret 
night 

Trusting  their  silent  path,  in  Chiron’s 
care 

They  placed,  the  nurturer  of  their  heir. 
STROPHE  VI. 

44  Such  is  my  tale  —  Good  people,  tell 
me  true  — 

My  fathers  rode  the  milk-white  steed  — 
where  stand 


157 


Their  stately  towers  ?  —  ’t  is  Ison’s  son 
ye  view ; 

I  come  no  alien  to  a  stranger’s  land  : 

My  godlike  host,  the  centaur  Seer, 

The  name  of  Jason  bade  me  bear.” 

Thus  spake  the  youth :  his  father’s 
glance 

Discerned  far  off  the  son’s  advance, 

And  the  big  tears  of  ecstasy 
Came  bubbling  from  his  aged  eye, 

So  swelled  his  bursting  heart  with  joy  to 
find 

His  lost  illustrious  boy  the  comeliest  of 
mankind. 

ANTISTROPHE  VI. 

Thither  in  haste,  allured  by  Jason’s  fame, 
His  reverend  uncles,  from  the  neigh¬ 
bouring  bowers 

By  Hypereia’s  fountain,  Pheres  came, 
Came  Amythaon  from  Messene’s  towers. 
Admetus  and  Melampus  too 
To  greet  their  glorious  kinsman  flew. 
With  welcome  warm  and  sumptuous 
feasts 


i5s 


Jason  regaled  his  honoured  guests, 

And  freely  without  change  or  check 
Threw  loose  the  reins  on  Pleasure’s 
neck : 

Five  days  and  nights  in  sympathy  of 
soul 

Plucked  they  the  laughing  flowers,  that 
crown  the  social  bowl. 

EPODE  VI. 

On  the  sixth  morn  his  plan  proposed, 

Its  cause,  importance,  means,  and  bent 
To  all  his  kin  the  youth  disclosed. 
Forthwith  they  sallied  from  their  tent, 

In  haste  for  Pelias’  mansion  bore, 

And  now  already  stood  within  the 
door. 

The  soft-haired  Tyro’s  artful  son 
Spontaneous  rose  to  meet  the  martial 
throng ; 

When  with  mild  air  and  soothing  tone, 
Dropping  sweet  words  that  melted  from 
his  tongue, 

Jason  the  conference  raised  on  Wisdom’s 
base : 

“  Hear  thou,  Petraean  Neptune’s  race, 

159 


STROPHE  VII. 


44  Prone  is  man’s  mind  from  Honour’s 
arduous  way 

To  verge  into  the  tempting  paths  of 
gain, 

Rough  in  the  advance  and  leading  far 
astray  : 

But  thine  and  mine  it  must  be  to  re¬ 
strain 

Our  wrath,  and  weave  our  future  weal. 

I  speak  to  ears,  that  heed  and  feel. 

One  parent’s  womb,  thou  knowest,  of 
yore 

Cretheus  and  bold  Salmoneus  bore ; 

And  we  their  grandsons  thus  look  on 

The  glory  of  the  golden  Sun. 

But  when  affection  cools,  and  hateful 
ire 

Rankles  in  kinsmen’s  hearts  the  decent 
Fates  retire. 

ANTISTROPHE  VII. 

44  Oh  ! ’t  is  not  seemly  thus  with  lance  and 
shield 

That  thou  and  I  for  honours  ancestral 

160 


Base  war  should  wage.  Take  all  my 
spacious  field, 

My  flocks  and  brindled  herds,  I  cede 
them  all, 

Which  from  my  sire  thy  daring  stealth 
Forced  and  yet  feeds,  thy  pampered 
wealth. 

I  grudge  thee  not,  and  view  with  ease 
Thy  house  enhanced  with  spoils  like 
these. 

But  what  I  challenge  for  my  own, 

My  sovereign  sceptre,  and  the  throne 
Whereon  sat  iEson,  when  the  law 
divine 

His  horsemen  hosts  received,  these, 
Pelias,  must  be  mine  : 

EPODE  VII. 

44  These  without  conflict  from  thy  hand, 
Lest  ill  betide  thee,  yield  us  back.” 

Thus  urged  the  prince  his  just  demand ; 
And  thus  e’en  Pelias  calmly  spake : 
u  Thy  will  be  mine  :  but  me  the  late 
Remains  of  life’s  declining  hour  await ; 
Thy  youth  now  wantons  in  the  bloom : 

161 


Thou  canst  appease  the  subterranean 
powers ; 

The  soul  of  Phrixus  from  the  tomb 
Calls  me,  to  bear  him  from  iEetes’  towers 
And  seize  the  ponderous  ram’s  reful¬ 
gent  hide, 

That  saved  him  from  the  raging  tide, 
STROPHE  VIII. 

w  Saved  from  the  incestuous  stepdame’s 
angrier  dart. 

This  to  mine  ear  a  dream  miraculous 
Hath  told :  for  this  have  I  with  anxious 
heart 

Castalia’s  counsels  askt,  that  urge  me  thus 
Thither  with  bark  and  band  to  speed  — 
Dare  thou  for  me  the  adventurous  deed, 
And  I  will  leave  thee  lord  and  king : 
Jove,  from  whom  all  our  races  spring, 

Be  Jove  himself  our  binding  oath, 
Witness,  and  warrant  of  our  troth.” 

This  compact  to  the  chiefs  propounded 
they 

With  full  consent  approved,  and  parting 
went  their  way. 

162 


ANTISTROPHE  VIII. 


His  heralds  loud  now  Jason  bade  pro¬ 
claim 

The  perilous  enterprise.  Three  sons  of 
Jove 

Unmatcht  in  combat  at  that  bidding 
came, 

The  fruits  of  Leda’s,  and  Alcmena’s, 
love. 

With  these  two  lofty  crested  chiefs 
From  Pylus’  towers  and  Taenarus’  cliffs, 
Enthusiasts  of  renown,  and  held 
Men  of  tried  heart  in  valour’s  field ; 
Euphemus  this,  from  Neptune  sprung, 
That  Periclymenus  the  strong. 

Illustrious  Orpheus  too,  the  minstrel’s 
sire, 

Apollo’s  offspring,  came,  and  smote  the 
inflaming  lyre. 

EPODE  VIII. 

Hermes,  that  waves  the  golden  wand, 
His  youthful  sons,  Echion  fair 
And  Erytus,  with  the  venturous  band 
Despatcht,  the  rough  exploit  to  share. 

163 


Down  came  the  youths,  that  dwelt 
below 

Pangaeum’s  wintry  base :  for  Boreas 
now 

Pleased  with  such  service,  king  of  storms, 

Sent  forth  in  haste  his  wondrous  progeny 

Zetas  and  Calais,  mortal  forms, 

With  plume-rough  backs  and  purple 
wings  to  fly. 

Juno  their  hearts  with  sweet  persuasive 
zeal 

Inspired  to  bound  on  Argo’s  keel, 
STROPHE  IX. 

To  court  the  tempting  toil:  that  none 
might  long 

To  waste  undangered  on  his  mother’s 
arm 

Youth  without  glory;  but  his  peers 
among 

Find  e’en  in  death  the  inestimable  charm 

That  cheers  the  close  of  Valour.  Now 

Iolcus  reacht  in  godlike  row 

Stood  the  choice  crew :  Jason  their 
look 

Heroic  praised,  their  numbers  took. 

164 


By  auguries  watcht,  by  chances  cast 

Mopsus  assured  of  heaven,  in  haste 

The  panting  band  embarkt,  and  from 
below 

The  lifted  anchor  hung  upon  the  danc¬ 
ing  prow. 

ANTISTROPHE  IX. 

High  on  the  stern  a  golden  goblet 
reared 

The  chief,  and  to  the  sire  of  all  the 
gods. 

The  lightning-lanced  Jove,  his  prayer 
preferred  ; 

Invoked  the  powers,  that  sway  the  winds 
and  floods, 

The  sea’s  wild  ways,  the  nights  forlorn, 

And  smiling  days,  and  sweet  return. 

Heaven’s  prompt  assent  in  accents  loud 

Spake  the  big  thunder  from  the  cloud, 

And  playful  poured  in  volleys  bright 

Its  fractured  beams  of  harmless  light. 

Paused  those  rude  heroes,  by  that  gleam 
divine 

And  sound  ambiguous  awed  —  Mopsus, 
that  hailed  the  sign, 

165 


EPODE  IX. 


Cheered  to  their  oars  the  rallied  crew, 
And  with  sweet  hopes  their  hearts  in¬ 
spired  : 

At  their  stout  stroke  the  galley  flew  ; 
Tost  from  their  blades  the  surge  retired. 
Soon  by  the  breathing  South  impelled 
To  Axine’s  stormy  mouth  their  course 
they  held  ; 

There  to  the  billowy  Neptune  reared 
A  sacred  shrine  and  altar  marbled  o’er, 
And  made  their  offering  from  the  herd 
Of  Thracian  bulls,  that  pastured  on  the 
shore ; 

Then,  as  the  danger  deepened,  all  adored 
Of  ships  and  seas  the  mighty  lord ; 

STROPHE  X. 

So  their  frail  bark  the  justling  rocks 
might  shun, 

Frightful  collision!  —  Twain,  self- 
moved,  they  were, 

Alive,  with  wild  rotation  whirling  on 
Swift  as  the  roaring  winds  —  In  mid 
career 

1 66 


The  passing  demigods  before 
Awe-struck  they  stopt  and  raged  no 
more. 

Now,  Phasis  reacht,  in  converse  sweet 
The  Greeks  and  dusky  Colchians  meet : 
iTetes  ruled  the  barbarous  land. 

Then  first  the  Cyprian  queen,  whose 
hand 

Points  the  resistless  arrow,  from  above 
Her  mystic  lynx  brought,  the  madden¬ 
ing  Bird  of  Love, 

ANTISTROPHE  X. 

Fast  in  his  quadri-radiate  circlet  bound, 
Charm  of  mankind :  and  incantations 
strange 

Arson's  sage  son  she  taught,  and  spells 
profound  ; 

Spells,  that  Medea’s  filial  faith  might 
change. 

And  for  fair  Greece  her  feverish  heart 
Seduce  from  that  wild  beach  to  part. 
Toucht  by  Persuasion’s  gentle  goad, 

All  her  sire’s  arts  and  toils  she  showed : 
Soft  oils  and  antidotes  she  gave 
Her  Jason’s  beauteous  form  to  save; 

167 


Till  all  prepared  to  Hymen’s  sweet  con¬ 
trol 

Their  mutual  loves  they  pledged  and 
mingled  soul  with  soul. 

EPODE  X. 

But  when  iEetes  full  in  sight 

His  adamantine  plough  produced 

His  furious  bulls,  whose  nostrils  bright 

Flames  of  consuming  fire  diffused, 

Battering  the  ground  with  brazen  tread ; 

These  single-handed  to  their  yokes  he  led; 

And  steadfast  drove  his  furrowed  line 

Straight  thro’  the  smoking  glebe,  sever¬ 
ing  in  twain 

An  acre’s  breadth  Earth’s  sturdy  spine. 

w  Let  him  that  ruled  your  vessel  o’er  the 
main 

Do  me  this  deed,”  the  vaunting  chieftain 
cries, 

w  And  be  the  immortal  Felt  his  prize, 
STROPHE  XI. 

u  His  the  rich  fleece,  that  glows  with 
flakes  of  gold.” 

1 68 


Off,  at  that  challenge  roused,  his  saffron 
vest 

Flung  Jason,  and  in  Love’s  assurance  bold 

Closed  on  the  task :  charmed  by  his 
bride’s  behest 

Singed  not  his  frame  the  raging  fire, 

Forward  he  drags  the  team  and  tire  ; 

Their  necks  in  close  constraint  he  joins, 

Stirs  with  sharp  goad  their  struggling  loins, 

And  with  stout  arm  and  manly  grace 

Works  out  with  ease  the  appointed  space. 

In  speechless  pang,  yet  muttering  at 
the  sight, 

Aghast  iTetes  stood  and  marvelled  at 
his  might. 

ANTISTROPHE  XI. 

Forth  to  their  gallant  chief  the  heroic 
throng 

Stretcht  their  glad  hands,  crowned  him 
with  chaplets  green, 

And  gratulations  poured  from  every 
tongue.  — 

Now  to  the  secret  haunt,  where  hung 
unseen 

The  glittering  skin  by  Phrixus  spread, 

169 


Sol’s  wondrous  son  the  strangers  led ; 
Nor  weened  that  mortal  enterprise 
Could  from  that  toil  triumphant  rise. 
Deep  in  a  dark  defile  it  lay  : 

A  ravening  dragon  watcht  the  way, 

In  bulk  like  some  huge  galley,  thick  and 

iong. 

With  iron  compact,  and  workt  by  fifty 
rowmen  strong. 

EPODE  XI. 

But  the  time  urges,  and ’t  were  long 
The  vulgar  tedious  path  to  tread  ; 

I  know  the  readier  route  of  song  ; 

And  Wisdom  follows  where  I  lead. 
Arcesilas,  by  art  beguiled 
The  blue-eyed  motley  serpent  Jason 
foiled ; 

With  stolen  Medea,  Pelias’  bane, 

The  boisterous  Ocean  crost,  and  Red- 
sea  flood 

To  shores,  where  now  the  heroic  train 
’Mong  Lemnian  wives,  stained  with  their 
husbands’  blood, 

Vied  for  the  mantle  prize  in  naked  grace, 
And  claspt  them  in  their  warm  embrace. 

170 


STROPHE  XII. 

On  that  famed  day  or  night,  by  Fate’s 
decree 

’Mong  tribes  barbarian  on  a  distant 
strand 

Dawned  the  first  beam  of  thy  great  des¬ 
tiny. 

There  first  the  race  that  shall  for  ages 
stand, 

Of  proud  Euphemus  hailed  the  day 

With  Spartan  dames  and  customs  they 

Mingling  and  swarming  forth  erewhile 

Peopled  Callista’s  beauteous  isle: 

From  whence  thy  sires  o’er  Libya’s 
waste 

Honoured  as  gods  Apollo  placed, 

And  gave  with  counsels  just  and  laws 
unknown 

Cyrene’s  realms  to  rule,  and  grace  her 
golden  throne. 

ANTISTROPHE  XII. 

Use  now  the  wit  of  CEdipus  profound  — 

If  one  with  sharpened  axe  and  reckless 
stroke 

171 


Lops  as  he  lists  the  sightly  branches 
round 

And  shames  the  honours  of  the  spreading 
oak : 

Tho’  fruit  thereon  no  longer  glows, 

Still  her  proud  bulk  and  strength  she 
shows, 

What  time  in  winter’s  hour  of  need 
The  crackling  hearth  her  fragments  feed  ; 
Or  stretcht  along  the  lengthening  row 
Of  stateliest  columns  reared  below 
Some  stranger’s  pressing  palace  she  sus¬ 
tains 

With  firm  unfailing  trunk,  forced  from 
the  unsheltered  plains. 

EPODE  XII. 

Thou  art  the  leech,  the  times  require, 
And  Paean  speeds  thy  skill  profound  5 
With  lenient  hand,  relenting  sire, 

Soften  and  heal  thy  subjects’  wound. 
The  worst,  the  weakest  from  its  base 
A  state  with  ease  may  shake ;  but  to  re¬ 
place 

The  accomplisht  pile  is  power  indeed, 
Unless  some  guardian  spirit  in  his  love 

172 


Seize  the  loose  helm,  the  leaders  lead. 

For  thee  that  grace  the  favouring  Fates 
have  wove. 

Oh  !  dare  then  for  thy  loved  Cyrene’s 
weal 

Strain  all  thy  strength,  use  all  thy  zeal. 

STROPHE  XIII. 

A  goodly  messenger,  as  Homer  sings 

(Heed  thou  the  tuneful  sage),  acceptance 
gives 

And  estimation  to  the  charge  he  brings. 

So  from  her  virtuous  theme  the  Muse 
derives 

Honour  and  grace.  The  illustrious 
house 

Of  Battus,  all  thy  realm  allows 

Damophilus  unmatcht  in  truth, 

Generous  and  just ;  ’mong  boys  a 
youth, 

In  counsel  provident  and  sage 

As  one  that  boasts  a  century’s  age. 

He  of  its  sparkling  jest  the  slanderous 
tongue 

Bereaves  :  with  honest  hate  he  meets  the 
oppressor’s  wrong. 

173 


ANTISTROPHE  XIII. 


Thus  with  the  wise  and  good  no  strife 
hath  he, 

Ardent  and  urgent  of  his  upright  plan  ; 
For  well  he  knows,  that  Opportunity 
(Which  he  observes,  not  serves)  rests  not 
with  man 

A  moment’s  pause.  ’T  is  bitterest  pain 
To  know,  yet  need,  and  crave  in  vain 
The  sweets  that  friends  and  freedom 
give : 

Thus  doth  this  suffering  Atlas  strive, 
From  wealth  and  kin  and  country  driven, 
Against  thy  weight,  his  pressing  heaven. 
Yet  Jove  the  Titans  loosed,  and  when 
the  gale 

Vexes  the  deep  no  more,  we  furl  the 
useless  sail. 

EPODE  XIII. 

Worn  out  with  lingering  ills,  his  prayer 
Is  still  to  greet  his  native  plain, 

By  Cyre’s  fount  the  feast  to  share 
And  yield  to  youth  his  soul  again. 

There  ranked  among  the  minstrel  choir 

174 


To  touch  with  gifted  hand  the  burnisht 

lyre, 

Warbling  in  peace  his  harmless  lay, 

Nor  offering  to  his  foes  nor  suffering 
wrong. 

Oh  !  that  his  lips  had  power  to  say 
What  recent  fountains  of  ambrosial  song 
Flowing  for  great  Arcesilas  he  found, 
Illustrious  guest  on  Theban  ground. 


i;5 


ODE  V. 

TO  ARCESILAUS  THE  CYRENiEAN 

Victor  in  the  Chariot -race 


STROPHE  I. 

Wealth  is  wide-extended  power, 
Whene’er  with  genuine  worth  combined 
Man  leads  it  forth  in  Fortune’s  favouring 
hour 

And  friendships  throng  behind. 

1 76 


Thee,  heaven-enhanced  Arcesilas, 

These  gifts  thro’  all  thy  glorious  days 
From  life’s  first  step,  by  Castor’s  grace, 
Have  blest ;  who  now  with  Pythian  bays 
Given  from  his  golden  car  thy  brows 
hath  crowned  : 

’T  was  he  the  threatening  storm  allayed 
That  shook  thy  prosperous  house  and 
spread 

The  cheering  calm,  that  brightens  round. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Wisdom  still  with  temperate  hand 
Improves  the  boon  by  Heaven  bestowed  ; 
And  thee,  that  walkest  with  Justice 
through  the  land, 

A  thousand  blessings  crowd. 

First  as  thou  art  the  sceptred  lord 
Of  mighty  realms,  and  bearest  combined 
By  Nature  for  that  proud  reward, 

The  ruler’s  eye,  the  sage’s  mind  : 

Next  as  thy  coursers  from  the  Pythian 
plain 

Have  born  the  glorious  prize  away, 
While  Phoebus  gives  thee  to  display 
The  exulting  pomp  and  choral  strain. 

1 77 


EPODE  I. 

O  cease  not,  while  the  song,  that  swells 
thy  fame, 

Sounds  through  Cyrene’s  echoing  towers, 
Where  Venus  spreads  her  sweetest  bow¬ 
ers, 

God  the  great  cause  of  all  things  to  pro¬ 
claim. 

First  of  thy  peers  be  great  Carrhotus 
styled ; 

He  brought  not  to  the  applauding  plain, 
Where  Battus’  just  descendants  reign, 
Excuse,  repentant  Epimethes’  child ; 

But  foremost  in  the  chariot-course 
By  pleased  Castalia’s  sacred  source 
The  accepted  stranger  past,  and  round 
Thy  kingly  locks  his  wreath  of  glory 
bound. 


STROPHE  II. 

Twelve  times  round  the  measured  bourn 
With  heel  unmatcht,  uninjured  rein, 
Flew  the  swift  steeds,  nor  tire  nor  trap¬ 
ping  torn  — 

Lo  !  where  by  Delphi’s  fane 

i78 


Hangs  the  fair  chariot  (sound  and  bright 
As  from  the  sculptor’s  hand  it  wheeled 
Beneath  the  steep  Crisaean  height 
To  the  hollow  plain  and  sacred  field), 
Slung  from  the  cypress  beam,  the  God 
beside ; 

Where  by  the  Cretan  archers’  hands 
Hewn  from  one  trunk  his  statue  stands, 
The  rich  Parnassian  temple’s  pride. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Him  with  grateful  heart  we  praise, 
Whose  deeds  exalt  his  country’s  king : 
On  thee,  Alexibiades,  their  rays 
The  bright-haired  Graces  fling  *, 

Blest  in  the  minstrel’s  mindful  strain, 
Thy  rare  exploit’s  reward,  to  live : 
Twice  twenty  chariots  strewed  the  plain, 
Thy  wheels  ungrazed,  thy  steeds  sur¬ 
vive  : 

Skill  hath  no  place  but  in  the  brave 
man’s  breast ; 

Now  from  the  glorious  games  once 
more 

His  Libyan  plains,  his  native  shore, 

The  youth’s  triumphant  steps  have  prest. 

179 


EPODE  II. 

Thus  labour  still,  man’s  painful  part, 
remains. 

Yet  mark  !  the  same  propitious  Power 

(The  stranger’s  light,  the  nation’s  tower) 

That  beamed  on  ancient  Battus,  still 
sustains 

The  throne  he  stablisht,  and  with  gifts 
profuse 

Blesses  his  people.  Him,  ’t  is  said, 

The  stately  lions  roaring  fled  : 

His  alien  speech  their  awe-struck  ire 
subdues. 

Phoebus  himself,  that  led  the  way, 

Gave  their  fierce  natures  to  dismay ; 

That  no  rude  chance  might  stay  Cyrene’s 
lord 

In  his  great  course,  or  thwart  the  unerr¬ 
ing  word. 

STROPHE  III. 

Phoebus  dire  disease’s  cure 

To  seers  and  sapient  matrons  shows : 

He  gave  the  lyre ;  and  on  his  favourites 
pure 


180 


The  inspiring  Muse  bestows 
(The  Muse,  that  wins  from  ruthless  war 
The  softened  soul  to  love  and  peace) : 
He  rules  the  shrine  oracular  ; 

Where  warned  by  him  the  Herculean 
race 

Sought  with  the  iEgimians  on  Laconian 
ground, 

In  Pyle  and  Argos  their  abode. 

The  praise,  from  Sparta’s  deeds  that 
flowed, 

Be  mine  in  partial  strain  to  sound. 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

Spartans  born  my  favoured  sires 
From  ^Egeus  sprung  to  Thera  came: 
Fate  led  them  to  the  land,  whose  sacred 
fires 

With  many  a  victim  flame. 

Thence,  Phoebus,  thy  Carneian  rites 
To  proud  Cyrene’s  mount  we  bore, 

Still  hallowing  as  the  feast  invites, 

Her  fair-built  fanes  and  echoing  shore. 
Thither  Antenor’s  sons,  Troy’s  brave  re¬ 
mains, 

By  hostile  flames  in  ruin  laid, 

1 8 1 


With  Helen’s  Grecian  wanderers  fled, 

And  left  their  sons  the  adopted  plains. 

• 

EPODE  III. 

There  dwelt  that  race  of  warlike  chari¬ 
oteers, 

To  whose  heroic  shades  the  band, 

That  led  by  Battus  rules  the  land, 

Still  slays  the  sacrifice,  the  altar  rears ; 
Battus,  whose  winged  galleys  thro’  the 
brine 

Oped  their  deep  passage.  For  the  gods 
High  groves  he  raised,  their  dark  abodes  : 
He  the  Scyrotan  to  Apollo’s  shrine, 
Where  the  full  pomp  with  prancing  steed 
Imploring  blessings  might  proceed, 

His  spacious  causeway  planned.  The 
Forum  nigh 

Aloof  the  vulgar  tombs  his  reliques  lie. 

STROPHE  IV. 

Blest  his  mortal  part  he  bore ; 

In  death  a  hero’s  rites  he  knows  : 

Their  sacred  kings  far  off,  the  walls  be¬ 
fore. 


182 


In  humbler  rest  repose. 

Still  in  the  shades  beyond  the  grave 
Our  liquid  lays  their  spirits  hear, 
Shedding  soft  dews  and  streams  that 
lave 

The  living  flower  their  virtues  bear; 
Lays,  that  with  them  Arcesilas  record 
Their  glorious  son  ;  whose  choral  train 
Now  sing  for  him  in  sounding  strain 
Phoebus  who  waves  the  flaming  sword, 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

Him,  who  sends  from  Pytho’s  hills 
The  graceful  song,  that  far  o’erbuys 
The  cost  of  conquest,  to  the  prince  that 
fills 

The  praises  of  the  wise. 

’T  is  but  the  general  tale  :  in  wit, 

In  words,  with  age  his  youth  may  vie ; 
Bold  as  the  Sovereign  bird,  whose  might 
With  wings  expanded  awes  the  sky. 

His  strength  in  contest,  like  the  tower 
in  war : 

A  child  the  Muses’  haunts  he  knew, 

Still  on  their  pinion  soars  :  and  who 
Shall  guide  with  him  the  glowing  car  ? 

183 


EPODE  IV. 


All  the  domestic  paths  that  lead  to  fame, 
His  enterprising  steps  have  tried  s 
And  well  the  approving  gods  supplied 
His  purposes  with  power.  Thro*  life 
the  same 

Grant  him,  in  act  resolved,  in  counsel 
sage, 

Blest  sons  of  Saturn,  long  to  know ; 

Nor  let  the  autumnal  tempest  blow 
To  blast  the  ripe  abundance  of  his  age : 
Jove,  whose  high  will  exalts  and  moves 
The  destiny  of  those  he  loves, 

Vouchsafe  the  sons  of  Battus  to  obtain 
Like  wreaths  of  glory  from  the  Olympian 
plain. 


184 


ODE  VI. 

TO  XENOCRATES  OF  AGRIGENTUM 
Victor  in  the  Chariot-race 


STROPHE  I. 

O  listen,  while  we  till  the  flowery 
field, 

Where  soft-eyed  Venus  and  the  Graces 
reign, 

185 


Hastening  with  duteous  step  our  vows 
to  yield 

Within  Earth’s  murmuring  nave  and 
central  fane : 

Where  for  the  Emmenian  tribe  re¬ 
nowned, 

And  watery  Agrigent,  and  great 

Xenocrates  with  Pythian  conquest 
crowned, 

Apollo’s  proud  retreat 

Enshrines,  its  golden  stores  among, 

The  treasure  of  our  rich  triumphal 
song. 


ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Song,  that  nor  wintry  shower  nor  driv¬ 
ing  hail. 

Keen  squadrons  of  the  pitiless  thunder¬ 
cloud, 

Nor  weltering  sands  shall  beat,  nor 
sweeping  gale 

Sink  in  the  caverns  of  the  all-whelming 
flood  : 

But  with  fair  front,  that  courts  the 
day’ 

Thine  and  thy  sire’s  commingled  praise, 

1 86 


Wherewith  the  world  rings  loudly,  shall 
display, 

And  tell  in  glory’s  lays 
How  bravely,  Thrasybule,  ye  won 
In  Crisa’s  echoing  vale  the  chariot- 
crown. 


STROPHE  II. 

There,  while  thine  hand  thy  father’s 
fame  sustained, 

Well  didst  thou  keep  the  precept,  which 
of  old 

Far  from  paternal  care  Pelides  gained 

From  Wisdom’s  lips  in  Chiron’s  moun¬ 
tain-hold  j 

u  Before  all  powers  to  fear  and  love 

The  god  that  wields  the  lightning’s 
fire, 

The  deep-mouthed  thunder’s  lord,  Sa¬ 
turnian  Jove ; 

Next,  to  thy  reverend  sire, 

Thro’  all  his  life’s  appointed  day, 

With  her  that  gave  thee  thine,  like 
honours  pay.” 


187 


ANTISTROPHE  II. 


Warmed  with  such  thoughts  Antilochus 
the  brave 

Single  withstood  the  furious  Memnon’s 
force 

Backed  by  his  iEthiop  host,  and  nobly 
gave 

Himself  to  save  his  sire  ;  whose  fainting 
horse 

Paris  with  many  a  shaft  had  maimed, 

And  checkt  his  chariot’s  fierce  career : 

Whereat  his  ponderous  lance  the  chief¬ 
tain  aimed 

Full  at  the  Pylian  seer  : 

Moved  at  the  danger,  not  appalled, 

w  Help,  help,  my  son,”  the  weak  old 
■  warrior  called. 

STROPHE  III. 

That  voice  unheeded  fell  not  to  the 
ground  ; 

Firm  stood  the  godlike  youth,  and  with 
his  own 

Ransomed  his  father’s  life.  Thence¬ 
forth  renowned 

1 88 


’Mong  youths  of  earlier  times  he  shines 
alone. 

All  hearts  his  generous  virtues  move ; 

All  tongues  the  egregious  deed  extolled, 

And  crowned  it  with  the  palm  of  filial 
love. 

Such  things  were  fame  of  old  : 

Of  all  the  living,  Thrasybule 

Most  shapes  his  progress  by  his  father’s 
rule, 


ANTISTROPHE  III. 

Nor  shines  not  by  his  glorious  uncle’s  side. 
Wisely  his  wealth  he  uses ;  nurses  well 
Youth’s  flower,  nor  shrunk  with  vice 
nor  flushed  with  pride, 

Gathering  fresh  wisdom  in  the  Muses’ 
dell. 

Thee,  founder  of  the  equestrian  race, 
Neptune,  that  shakest  the  billowy  strand, 
Thee  and  thy  toils  his  fond  pursuits  em¬ 
brace  : 

Yet  with  the  social  band 
In  converse  mingling,  sweet  is  he 
As  the  stored  cell-work  of  the  mountain 
bee. 


189 


ODE  VII. 

TO  MEGACLES  THE  ATHENIAN 

Victor  in  the  Race  of  Chariots  drawn  by 
Four  Horses 


STROPHE 

Take,  Minstrel,  when  thy  glowing  lyre 
displays 

The  equestrian  triumphs  of  Alcmaeon’s 
race, 

Great  Athens  for  thy  theme,  the  proud¬ 
est  base 

190 


Whereon  the  structure  of  thy  strain  to 
raise. 

What  country's  native  can  we  name 
Sprung  from  what  nobler  house,  the 
applause  of  Greece  to  claim  ? 


ANTISTROPHE 

Thro*  all  our  streets  the  talk,  the  gen¬ 
eral  tale 

Dwells  on  Erechtheus’  people ;  by  whose 
hands 

Reared  on  thy  Pythian  rocks,  Apollo, 
stands 

Yon  gorgeous  temple.  Thither  borne  I 
hail 

From  Isthmus  five,  from  Cirrha  twain, 

And  one  distinguisht  wreath  from  Jove’s 
Olympian  plain, 

EPODE 

Won  by  thy  matchless  ancestry. 

Illustrious  Megacles,  and  thee. 

Thy  fresh  success  with  joy  we  greet ; 

Yet  sorrowing  mark,  how  Envy’s  pace 

191 


Still  runs  by  Virtue  in  the  race, 
Ill-paid  Desert  disasters  meet, 

And  Fortune’s  wintry  gales  destroy 
The  fairest  blossoms  of  our  joy. 


192 


ODE  VIII. 

TO  ARISTOMENES  OF  JEGINA 
Victor  in  the  Game  of  Wrestling 


STROPHE  I. 

O  Peace,  by  whom  all  hearts  one  friend¬ 
ship  share, 

And  mightiest  empires  stand ; 

Daughter  of  Justice,  in  whose  hand 
Hang  the  great  keys  of  council  and  of 
war :  — 

For  conquering  Aristomenes 
Accept  the  Pythian  crown  we  weave : 

193 


Thou  knowest  the  season  of  soft  courte¬ 
sies, 

The  grace  to  take  or  give. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

But  when  the  aggressor’s  wrong  thy 
friends  sustain, 

And  foes  thy  power  engage, 

Then  dost  thou  roughen  into  rage, 

And  plunge  presumptuous  insult  in  the 
main. 

Too  late  the  rash  Porphyrion  taught 

Thy  sharp  rebuke,  thy  vengeance  tries ; 

Taught,  how  secure  the  gain  by  Justice 
bought, 

How  dear  the  plunderer’s  prize. 

EPODE  I. 

Thou  in  his  hour  each  vaunter  has  sub¬ 
dued  : 

Not  Typhon’s  hundred  heads  thy  watch¬ 
ful  power 

Eluded  or  repelled, 

Nor  he  that  led  the  giant  brood  : 

Their  feud  the  volleying  thunder  quelled, 

194 


With  fierce  Apollo’s  arrowy  shower; 
Who  now  with  favouring  look  receives 
Xenarces’  son  from  Cirrha’s  plain, 
Crowned  with  his  own  Parnassian  leaves, 
The  shouting  choir  and  Dorian  strain. 

STROPHE  II. 

Nor  lies  that  beauteous  isle,  where  Jus¬ 
tice  sways, 

Where  Virtue’s  touch  divine 
Still  warms  the  great  jEacean  line, 

Far  from  the  Graces  thrown.  From 
earliest  days 

A  proud  illustrious  name  she  boasts  : 

The  chiefs  her  teeming  cities  yield 
First  in  the  games, among  conflicting  hosts 
The  heroes  of  the  field. 

ANTISTROPHE  II. 

Such  are  her  glories  —  but  the  time 
would  fail, 

The  exhausted  ear  would  tire, 

From  voice  and  soft  enchanting  lyre 
Of  all  her  deeds  to  hear  the  lengthened 
tale. 


195 


But  to  my  task  —  aloft  the  song, 

Due  to  thy  young  exploit,  shall  spring, 
Plumed  by  mine  heart  to  bear  thy  fame 
along 

High  on  her  sounding  wing. 

EPODE  II. 

Thou  in  the  wrestler’s  field  the  steps 
hast  traced 

Of  thy  stout  uncles :  thou  nor  Theog- 
nete, 

With  braid  Olympian  crowned, 

Hast  with  thy  Pythian  proof  disgraced ; 
Nor  stanch  Cleitomachus,  renowned 
For  his  huge  frame  and  Isthmian  feat. 
Thus  thy  Midylian  tribe  enhanced. 

Thy  praise  CEclides  well  displayed, 
When  to  seven-portalled  Thebes  ad¬ 
vanced 

The  warlike  sons  his  strain  portrayed : 
STROPHE  III. 

’T  was  when  from  Argos’  walls  their  sec¬ 
ond  train 

The  Seven  Descendants  led  : 

196 


w  The  soul  by  nature  bold,”  he  said, 

“  That  warms  the  generous  father,  glows 
again 

In  the  brave  son.  Behold,  behold. 

At  Cadmus’  gates  Alcmaeon  wield, 

First  in  the  fight,  the  dragon’s  motley 
mould 

That  fires  his  blazoned  shield. 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

w  Adrastus  too,  by  past  disasters  prest, 
Now,  with  fresh  heart  upheld 
By  happier  omen,  fronts  the  field, 

For  future  woes  yet  markt,  at  home  un¬ 
blest. 

He  of  the  Danaan  chiefs  alone 
Shall  come  with  whole  unvanquisht  pow¬ 
ers, 

Yet  gathering  sad  the  relics  of  his  son, 
To  Abas’  massy  towers.” 

EPODE  III. 

Thus  sage  Amphiaraiis  taught  the  throng  : 
Nor  with  less  rapture  round  Alcmaeon’s 
brows 


197 


Will  I  the  wreath  entwine, 

Less  bathe  him  with  the  dews  of  song  : 
For  he  my  neighbour  is ;  his  shrine 
Guards  with  its  shade  my  hallowed 
house : 

As  to  Earth’s  central  dome  I  came, 

His  spirit  crost  my  startled  way, 

Toucht  with  his  sire’s  prophetic  flame, 
And  told  the  triumphs  of  the  day. 

STROPHE  IV. 

God  of  the  radiant  bow,  by  Pytho’s  clifts, 
Where  thy  proud  rites  sustain 
The  glorious  all-frequented  fane, 

Thou  on  this  youth  the  noblest  of  thy  gifts 
Hast  lavisht  :  at  thy  feast  before 
The  prompt  Pentathlet’s  hasty  prize 
He  snatcht,  thy  bounty,  on  his  native 
shore 

Once  more  with  favouring  eyes 

ANTISTROPHE  IV. 

Beam,  I  beseech  thee,  on  the  harmonious 
lyre. 

Which  for  the  brave  this  hand 

198 


Awakens  :  Justice  takes  her  stand 

Beside,  and  guides  the  sweet  triumphal 
choir. 

May  Heaven’s  regard  thy  prosperous 
lot, 

Son  of  Xenarces,  long  sustain  ! 

Tho’  wise  the  weak  account  him  that 
hath  got 

Great  fame  with  little  pain, 

EPODE  IV. 

His  life  with  wisdom  armed,  his  counsels 
^  just ; 

*T  is  not  for  man  the  blessing  to  com¬ 
mand  ; 

From  God  all  bounties  flow : 

This  man  he  raises  from  the  dust 

Aloft ;  he  lays  another  low, 

And  metes  him  with  his  chastening 
hand. 

Three  times  thy  brow  the  crown  has 
won : 

At  home  in  Juno’s  Games  decreed, 

At  Megara,  and  in  Marathon, 

Where  might,  not  chance,  achieved  the 
deed. 


199 


STROPHE  V. 

Hurled  by  thy  fierce  encounter  from 
above, 

Four  champions  prest  the  ground  — 

To  them  the  Pythian  judge  profound 

Doomed  not  the  sweet  return,  nor  smile 
of  love 

From  fond  maternal  grace  to  meet; 

Pierced  with  their  sad  mischance,  alone, 

By  path  forlorn  they  slink  and  secret 
street, 

The  taunting  foe  to  shun. 

ANTISTROPHE  V. 

But  he,  that  hath  some  recent  glory 
gained, 

On  Exultation’s  wings, 

Lord  of  his  hope,  triumphant  springs 

To  heights  which  Wealth’s  low  cares 
can  ne’er  ascend. 

Yet  ah  !  how  short  the  vernal  hour 

Allowed  for  mortal  bliss  to  blow  ! 

Fate  from  the  stem  soon  shakes  the  flut¬ 
tering  flower, 

That  droops  and  dies  below. 

200 


0 


EPODE  V. 

Child  of  a  day,  what ’s  man  ?  what  is  he 
not  ? 

His  life  a  shadow’s  dream  !  yet  when 
from  Jove 

The  gladdening  gleam  appears, 

Then  bright  and  brilliant  is  his  lot, 

And  calms  unclouded  gild  his  years  — 
Still,  great  iEgina,  join  thy  love 
With  Jove’s  ;  thy  realm  in  freedom  hold  ; 
And  iEacus  with  sceptred  hand, 

Peleus  and  Telamon  the  bold, 

And  great  Achilles  guard  the  land ! 


201 


ODE  IX. 


TO  TELESICRATES  OF  CYRENE 
Victor  in  the  Race  with  Heavy  Armour 


STROPHE  I 

I  pant  the  Pythian  triumph  to  resound 
Of  brazen-bucklered  Telesicrates, 
Whom  all  the  deep-zoned  Graces  throng 
to  please, 

The  flower  of  proud  Cyrene,  steed-re¬ 
nowned. 

Her,  once  a  huntress  mountain  maid, 
From  Pelion’s  tempest-bellowing  shade, 

202 


Trest  with  the  radiant  locks  of  light 
Thy  son,  Latona,  lured  away, 

Rapt  in  his  golden  chariot  bright, 

To  realms  where  flocks  unnumbered 
stray. 

Where  trees  with  fruits  perennial  stand  : 
He  made  her  mistress  of  the  land, 

And  gave  the  world’s  third  continent  to 
bloom 

With  nature’s  loveliest  works  for  fair 
Cyrene’s  home. 

ANTISTROPHE  I. 

Forth  from  his  heavenly  car  her  Delian 
guest 

Love’s  silver-sandalled  Queen,  with 
courteous  touch 

And  soft  reception,  handed  :  she  their 
couch 

In  modesty’s  becoming  drapery  drest ; 
She  bade  the  nuptial  rite  prepare, 

Such  as  became  a  god  to  share 
With  powerful  Hypseus’  matchless 
maid  — 

Hypseus,  whose  throne  the  Lapithae, 
Haughty  and  brave  in  arms,  obeyed  : 

203 


His  race  from  Ocean  boasted  he, 

A  hero’s  offspring,  whom  of  yore 
The  nymph  divine  Creiisa  bore, 

Earth’s  glittering  daughter,  when  to 
Peneus’  love 

Her  watery  charms  she  gave  in  Pindus’ 
warbled  grove. 

EPODE  1. 

Reared  by  her  father’s  hand,  a  damsel 
fair 

Of  comeliest  form  Cyrene  grew ; 

She  loved  not  the  dull  loom,  nor  e’er 
The  task-retracting  shuttle  threw  ; 
Joined  not  the  soft  domestic  train 
In  tame  delights  of  feast  or  dance, 

But  with  keen  sword  and  brazen  lance 
Rusht  on  the  ruthless  savage  of  the 
plain. 

So  watcht,  her  father’s  flocks  securely 
fed ; 

When  the  first  streaks  of  morning 
broke, 

The  slumbers  from  her  lids  she  shook, 
Nor  lost  the  precious  prime  on  Sloth’s 
bewitching  bed. 

204 


STROPHE  II. 

Her  once  the  quivered  distant-darting 
God 

With  a  fierce  lion’s  rage  —  unarmed, 
alone  — 

Struggling  descried  :  whereat  with  cheer¬ 
ing  tone 

He  roused  old  Chiron  from  his  rude 
abode : 

“  Haste  from  thy  sombrous  cave,”  he 
said, 

tl  And  marvel  at  this  martial  maid : 

Mark  with  what  strength  her  spirit 
strains. 

With  what  fell  foe  the  unequal  fight 

Her  fair  unpractised  arm  sustains ; 

Tires  not  the  toil  her  virgin  might, 

Nor  freezing  fear  with  danger  prest 

Ruffles  her  bold  unshrinking  breast. 

Tell  me  what  sire  begot  the  generous 
child  — 

Sprung  from  what  wondrous  womb, 
among  the  mountains  wild, 


205 


ANTISTROPHE  II. 


u  Holds  she  her  shadowy  haunt,  tasting  of 
power 

E’en  beyond  manhood’s  license?  Tell 
me,  Sire, 

Doth  aught  forbid  the  hand  of  chaste 
desire 

From  that  sweet  plant  to  pluck  the 
tempting  flower  ?  ” 

Moved  at  the  warm  request,  with  mild 
Relaxing  brow  and  glistening  eyes, 

The  greatly  gifted  Centaur  smiled, 

Then  thus  with  counsel  pure  replies : 
w  ’T  is  soft  persuasion’s  secret  key 
Unlocks  the  gates  of  ecstasy. 

Phoebus,  with  men,  with  gods  above, 
Prevails  the  same  reserve  of  love, 

That  with  concealed  approach  in  vir¬ 
tue’s  guise 

Ascends  without  repulse  the  bed  where 
beauty  lies. 


206 


EPODE  II. 

M  But  since  with  thee  no  falsehood  can 
remain, 

Some  playful  freak  thy  tongue  divine 

Impels  this  nescient  mood  to  feign  : 

Thou  learn  from  me  a  mortal’s  line  ! 

Thou,  who  the  ends  of  nature  know’st, 

Know’st  all  her  means ;  the  leaves  that 
swell 

Earth’s  vernal  bloom  with  ease  canst 
tell ; 

Number  the  boundless  sands  that  on  the 
coast 

Of  stream  or  sea  the  winds  or  waters 
beat ; 

That  with  distinct  regard  canst  see 

All  things  that  are,  have  been,  shall  be  ; 

If  yet  the  weak  must  teach,  thy  wis¬ 
dom’s  want  I  meet. 

STROPHE  III. 

u  Thou  ’mongst  these  glades  hast  sought 
this  maid’s  embrace ; 

Hence  shalt  thou  bear  her  o’er  the  swell¬ 
ing  brine 


207 


To  Jove’s  delightful  garden,  there  to 
shine 

A  kingdom’s  mistress,  while  the  Island 
race 

Her  state  by  thee  collected  round 

People  the  plain-encompassed  mound. 

Meanwhile  to  greet  the  illustrious  maid 

For  thee  the  reverend  Libya  comes, 

Her  fields  with  spacious  pastures  spread  ; 

Thrones  her  within  her  golden  domes, 

And  portions  from  her  vast  domain 

An  empire  for  Cyrene’s  reign, 

Wanting  nor  fruit  nor  flower,  the  beau¬ 
teous  place 

Profuse,  nor  beast  to  rouse  the  raptures 
of  the  chase. 

ANTISTROPHE  III. 

u  There  shall  she  bear  a  son,  thence  far 
away 

On  Herme’s  pinions  wafted  from  the 
birth, 

To  where  the  bright-throned  Hours  and 
teeming  Earth 

On  their  soft  laps  the  illustrious  babe 
shall  lay. 


208 


Blest  Aristaeus ;  they  his  lip 

Shall  teach  the  ambrosial  food  to  sip, 

And  crown  with  immortality, 

In  nectar  quaft,  the  gifted  boy  : 

Guardian  of  flocks  and  folds  is  he, 
Thence  Nomius  named,  the  herdsman’s 

j°yj 

Agreus  by  swains  the  chase  that  love, 
And  Phoebus  and  eternal  Jove.” 

Thus  Chiron  spoke.  The  God  his 
words  inspire 

The  nuptial  rite  to  speed,  and  crown  his 
great  desire. 

EPODE  III. 

Swift  are  the  movements  of  celestial 
minds, 

And  short  the  path  their  wills  descry ; 
That  hour  the  bond  of  rapture  binds  ; 

In  Libya’s  golden  bower  they  lie. 

There  the  bright  walls  for  games  re¬ 
nowned 

Still  prospering  boast  her  guardian 
love : 

Conquering  the  while  in  Pytho’s  grove 
The  son  of  proud  Carneades  hath  bound 

209 


Her  brows  with  glory’s  wreath,  aloud 
her  name 

Proclaimed  :  —  him  then  in  all  her  streets 
With  all  her  beauteous  dames  she  greets, 
Bearing  from  Delphi’s  peak  the  raptur¬ 
ous  prize  of  fame. 

STROPHE  IV. 

Boundless  is  virtue’s  praise :  yet  he  that 
wooes 

The  wise,  with  sparing  blazon  will  supply 
The  abundant  theme,  while  opportunity, 
That  perfects  all  things,  curbs  the  excur¬ 
sive  Muse. 

This  Iolaus  practised  well, 

As  oft  seven-portalled  Thebes  shall  tell  : 
He  for  one  day  from  death  returned, 
With  his  choice  blade’s  dispatchful  thrust 
Eurystheus  pierced ;  again  inurned, 

Slept  with  his  godlike  grandsire’s  dust, 
The  charioteer  Amphitryon ; 

Who,  on  Cadmean  friendships  thrown, 
Within  the  adopted  walls  where  The¬ 
bans  ride 

The  milk-white  warrior  horse,  illustrious 
stranger,  died. 


210 


ANTISTROPHE  IV. 


Mingling  in  dalliance  high  with  him  and 
Jove, 

At  one  great  birth  two  mighty  sons  of 
yore, 

Matchless  in  fight,  the  sage  Alcmena 
bore. 

Cold  is  the  tardy  tongue  that  will  not 
move  — 

Not  burn  for  Hercules  to  sing, 

Nor  that  beloved  Dircean  spring 
Remember,  from  whose  bubbling  stream, 
With  Iphicles,  he  drank.  For  vows, 
With  many  a  trophy  crowned,  to  them 
The  loud  triumphal  choir  I  ’ll  rouse. 

Ye  warbling  Graces,  on  this  head 
Cease  not  your  beams  of  song  to  shed, 
That  tells  what  chaplets  from  Angina’s 
shore, 

And  thrice  from  Nisus’  mount  Cyrene’s 
champion  bore. 

EPODE  IV. 

Thus  to  renown,  from  mute  obscurity, 
Struggling  he  rose.  Let  friends  proclaim, 

21 1 


And  rivals  too,  if  such  there  be, 

His  labours  for  his  country’s  fame  ! 

Still  keep  the  watery  seer’s  behest, 

That  bids  our  veriest  praises  flow 
E’en  for  the  virtues  of  a  foe. 

Oft  at  the  great  Pentathlian  feast 
The  fair  beheld  thee  crowned  with  vic- 
tory ; 

And  each  her  wish  in  silence  gave 
That  Telesicrates  the  brave 
Were  but  her  darling  son,  or  noble  spouse 
might  be; 

STROPHE  V. 

Crowned  in  the  Olympic  sports,  the 
heroic  shows 

Of  ample-bosomed  earth,  and  every 
game 

Known  in  Cyrene,  —  thy  forefather’s 
name 

Yet  claims  some  brief  memorial  ere  we 
close 

(Tho’  almost  quencht  our  thirst  of 
song), 

To  tell  how  erst  the  suitor  throng, 

Lured  by  the  Libyan  damsel’s  fame, 

212 


Antaeus*  daughter,  beauteous-haired, 
With  brave  pretence  and  various  claim, 
To  fair  Irasa’s  towers  repaired. 

Her  with  vain  vows  her  courteous  kin 
Chiefs  of  high  note  had  wooed  to  win ; 
Her  many  a  fond  aspiring  stranger 
sought, 

For  nature  in  her  form  its  loveliest  work 
had  wrought. 

ANTISTROPHE  V. 

Fain  would  they  pluck  the  blooming 
fruit  that  crowned 

Her  golden  youth’s  sweet  blossom  :  but 
her  sire 

Ties  more  august,  and  loftier  hopes 
inspire. 

He  from  sage  lips  and  time-voucht 
tales  had  found 

How  erst  in  Argos,  ere  the  sun 
Half  his  diurnal  race  had  run. 

For  eight  and  forty  virgins  each 
Danaus  a  youthful  spouse  embraced ; 
Within  the  Stadium’s  listed  reach 
How  all  the  blushing  train  he  placed, 
While  heralds  loud  to  all  proclaim 

213 


The  plan  and  prizes  of  the  game, 
Wherein  each  panting  hero  might  decide, 
As  each  in  speed  excelled,  the  fortune 
of  his  bride. 

EPODE  V. 

Thus  for  his  daughter  fair  the  Libyan  sire 
Fit  spousal  found.  Her  envied  place 
Fast  by  the  goal,  in  rich  attire, 

He  fixt,  to  close  and  crown  the  race. 
“To  him  whose  passing  speed,”  he  said, 
“  Her  veil  first  gains,  the  prize  be  due.” 
Foremost  Alexidamus  flew, 

And  by  her  yielded  hand  in  triumph  led 
Through  troops  of  Nomads  his  accom- 
plisht  spouse  : 

They  from  their  steeds  with  transport 
new 

Fresh  leaves  and  flowers  upon  him  threw, 
While  plumes  of  conquest  past  hung 
graceful  round  his  brows. 


214 


Date  Due 


AUG  01 

...  -TTWirigcj 

ncU9’&  . 

JAN  1 r  35 

NOV 

A-4  k 

t^\ 

— V  -* - 

suns' 

b-i 

BOSTON  COUCU 


II 


3  9031 


01241976  8 


1316  f> 


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